Hunt's Pier 1988 / On The Wildwood Boardwalk In NJ

Excellent video footage of Hunt's Pier amusements taken in the summer of 1988. This video was shot by Wildwood Crest resident Michael Hawthorne who worked on Hunt's pier and in the theatres from 1980 to 1990.

[@chunky9791]

Born & raised in a poor single mom household, at age 7 in 1988 I took my first vacation to wildwood. The first ride I seen & had to go on was the golden nugget! I'll never forget my 1st ride looking out over the beautiful beach at nite. Now I'm a 38, an old man watching this with my 2 girls age 8 +4. There won't ever be a time like this again in today's era. Thing we're so laid back & free back then.

[@TGP109]

Did you know the Golden Nugget is in Knoebel's Amusement Park in Pa. and still running? It's been revamped as a coal mine ride, but the track is still the same.

[@Zickcermacity]

7:44 Sade Smooth Operator playing! I was 18 that summer and sure enough went to Wildwood in August. Nothing beat Wildwood in the 80s, IN the eighties!

[@mawhinney420]

Wow! Thanks so much for posting this. I grew up in North Wildwood and spent many summers on Hunt's Pier. My Uncle Lou actually worked the Golden Nugget and I was hoping I might get a glimpse of him on your video AND there he is at 3:03! Awesome. Thanks for bring back such great memories. I miss Hunt's.

[@michaeladamo1188]

That’s awesome! Is that the same Lou who’s name was carved in the beam?

[@chiaralistica]

Funny you say that, I'm just waiting to pop up on one of these vids. I spent many summers in Wildwood Crest and the boards were a popular recreational activity.

[@davidhibbs6989]

All of these young people are probably in their early to mid 50's by now and all is just a faded memory in time! I loved old hunt's Pier when I use to come here back in the 60&70's .... Great video 👍 I also worked here as a ride operator summer of 79' that guy at the beginning reminded me of a guy by the name of Gus, probably long gone if that was him, really nice guy..

[@nickpalance3622]

Oh we are definitely in our 50s. They are a few years older than me (like late high school, upper classmen) and I’m barely past 50 (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) … hard to believe how time flew by. Especially if you had family and one or more offspring are now in college. 🤯

[@8644mec]

Wildwood in the late 80's and early 90's were some of the best times of my life. Thanks so much for posting. I haven't been down there in years now, but I imagine things have changed too much for my liking by now....

[@bignuts850]

It not the same 80s was when it Was great

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

Late 80s and early 90s, Wildwood was a truly magical place for kids and their parents.

[@nickpalance3622]

You should have seen it ‘80-‘84. Arcades everywhere. Always something new each season. First time and place I saw Dragon’s Lair. Probably at multiple arcades but Gateway 26 comes to mind. Just steps away from Hunt’s Pier and Morey’s Pier. I kid you not, I STILL have the frames poster of Van Halen from their “1984” days and it’s in my bedroom closet just steps away as I write this. I try to keep it from UV damage these days. But I do peek at it from time to time.

[@trentaccid2177]

70'S TO 79 WAS HUNTS PIERS HEYDAY 80'S IT WENT DOWNHILL. THE GOLDEN NUGGET MINE RIDE IS IN KINOBLES PARK IN P.A.NOW KNOWN AS THE BLACK DIAMOND SADELY.

[@nickpalance3622]

@@trentaccid2177 I suppose you’re right. But I didn’t know it T the time as a kid. Summer 1984 was our last season before life circumstances interfered. I don’t remember if it was ‘87 or ‘88 or ‘89 but we did go back one weekend and it just wasn’t the same. Sure, I was in high school then, but the thrill and fun were muted and things looked a little more run down. Reaganomics doing its thing? Still, in the early half of the 80s I had fun. Maybe when I was that young I couldn’t see yet what was changing around me. Definitely the first half of the first half of the 80s were still propped up by the 70s if that makes any sense. 🤷‍♂️

[@OceanKingNY]

Wow, that whistle-sound when the Golden Nugget car goes around the curve really takes me back to my childhood. You would hear that whistle blowing the whole time you were on Hunt's Pier! I wish they'd get it up and running again.

[@TGP109]

The old Golden Nugget is now a coal mine themed ride at Knoebel's Amusement Park in Pa.

[@davidhibbs6989]

​@@TGP109 I've been on that ride. It's nice but it's not even close to what the mine nugget ride was. They only used the tracking all of the exhibits were sold off friend if mine has one of the props they used.

[@berniemcfadden7760]

Wow! What I wouldn't do, just to ride the Gold Nugget one more time! Wildwood was our Disney land in the 80's! Thanks for the memories

[@audrag.4756]

You CAN ride the Golden Nugget again! The track and cars were sent to Knoebels in PA, and it's now the Black Diamond Mine Ride.

[@chiaralistica]

It was better than Disney because we could spend weeks there and it was so close to home.

[@florida1795]

I remember my parents asking me if I wanted to go to Disney or go to Wildwood again when I was a kid, as we went to Wildwood every year. I didn’t even have to think about it…Wildwood again!!!

[@DelbertSting-th7if]

Remember the view at night from the top of the golden nugget? The lights, the people, and the smell of the ocean. I’m right back there now.

[@funchase]

It was an intoxicating blend.

[@florida1795]

It was the best ❤

[@billdaddario8800]

I love this video........Makes me feel like I'm still standing there........ Thanks for the memories...

[@garyambrosino4132]

Hunt's Pier what's the best Pier on the boardwalk I wish I had never closed the pirate ship on was also fun

[@PhilCommander2]

We went to Wildwood at least once a year when I was a kid in the early 70s...The Golden Nugget was my favorite ride as a little kid and young teenager. Thanks so much for filming and posting this! Made my morning!!! (along with the sixpack I'm drinking!)

[@chiaralistica]

Salud!

[@shaolinlueb]

man i loved the golden nugget. wild wood was so much fun in the 80's and early 90's. when i heard dracula's castle burnt down i was heart broken.

[@ravenst1709]

Me too that castle ruled, better then any haunted rides anywhere

[@ravenst1709]

I worked on the pier that summer at STANLEY SPORTLAND ARCADE funnest summer and job EVER. I SO DEFINITELY miss wildwood and wish I could get there again

[@AbandonedMines11]

Great video! My family used to vacation there in the mid-1970s. I remember the Gold Mine ride. My favorite as a little kid was the Whacky Shack, though. Dang, I miss that ride! Hopefully you can find some onride footage of the Whacky Shack to post. I loved the onride footage of the Gold Mine ride. Brought back a lot of memories! Thanks!!

[@dowzycki]

Great video. Marched in Drum & Bugle Corps in the 70's and 80's and went to Wildwood every year in June and Sept. for the VFW and American Legion contests and parades and rode these rides every year. Those years were Wildwood's heydays!!! Thanks for sharing this video.

[@jfscotch]

Thanks for sharing that incredible footage. Takes me back to a long time ago in the mid 1980's and the family vacations every August. Such a simple and good time. Yes, I am now in my mid-50's and that golden nugget mine ride was always my favorite. Went on that ride every night we were there. I haven't been to Wildwood in years a decade or more but the last I was down there they were razing most of the Doo-Wop hotels and putting up condos. Such a shame.

[@TGP109]

There is a Doo-Wop Preservation Society run by one of the Morey's family.

[@irtr36]

Hunts pier was the best!!! thanks for the memories!!!! Howard: Killadelphia, PA

[@maxtsu1]

I did the US J1 visa summer '88. And went from Ireland to Wildwood, and worked the summer in Hunts Pier. I mainly ran the Wacky Shack near end of season.

[@ChristopherHagee]

I've visited Wildwoods on So. N.J. coast on 3 occasions:September, 1978-late-June, 1983-Summer, 1998

[@robkrasinski6217]

On the Castle Dracula facebook page Eric Princz posted blueprints of Whacky Shack track layout, and one showing changes from Devil's Inn to Whacky Shack. But the one blueprint showed the changes/additions to the track layout as longer than the final version was. I saw the vid of Eric and Louie V. walking through the Shack (Hunt's Horror) after it closed, around 1995. Louie was pointing out things what used to be where because all the props were removed. Most were saved, and some are on display in Randy's new arcade location on the boardwalk near Magnolia Av. along with a few ride carts, and Jungleland animals, and more.

[@geo386]

I miss all the piers, sportland, hunts and the rest. There were some great rides that are long gone. I still feel Wildwood is a former shadow of itself. There so much more to do than with the current boardwalk. Why they even replaced the wooden benches with metal. I remember it being so much better when I was a child growing up in New Jersey. The piers And the rides are gone and now just faded memories. It is shame, places like the nut hut or magic shop are gone. In addition no movie theaters on the island.

[@geo386]

@John Smith Really, I thought it was just because the Morey family took over and ran other piers out.

[@davehibbs9111]

Loved it brought back great memories!!!

[@davidhibbs6989]

Hey what's up nephew 😜

[@robk866]

Louie the Nugget operator just passed away recently. I rode the Nugget between 1980-1983, and June 1996 and 1998 Dino Beach years. Louie was probably running the Nugget those years. He must have stayed on after the pier was sold, first in early 1986, then in the 90's as the pier changed owners and names. But in 1995 the Nugget was closed, as well as the SBNO Hunt's Horror (Whacky Shack through 1988) there is a video on here of a tour through the closed Whacky Shack (Hunt's Horror) in 1995 with Louie and Eric Princz who worked at Brigantine Castle, Castle Dracula, and rehabbed the Nugget for Dino Beach in early 1996, ran Morbid Manor haunt at Sportland Pier 2011-2012, and owns a prop making company in south Jersey, there is also a video recently put up of Louie taking a walk through tour of the Nugget prior to Dino Beach.

[@curtmackey4951]

I think Louie worked till 88 then didnt come back after remodeling.

[@rocco2820]

all of the sounds alone make this video great

[@Dalt21]

I’m younger so I grew up with the rides of wildwood from 2004-2010 and honestly still can enjoy them lol. But that water ride at the end of the video is awesome to see...because you can still see the remnants of it today. Up until maybe 2007 or 08, there were still even some of those old boats left hanging around. I always thought there was an old water ride there, and this just confirms it !

[@BB-dh6sw]

Rode that water ride, it was actually pretty cool.

[@loocpoc]

I wish I could go back to the 80's just to ride the Golden Nugget or the Jungleland Cruise again. The Golden Nugget is now at Knoebels Theme Park near Bloomsburg PA and was renamed the Black Coal

[@Razorgeist]

I remember riding this when i was a kid.

[@Zickcermacity]

I rode Golden Nugget and didn't think much of it as a teenager in this period. I figured, it would always be there, like most folks think. Like the WTC was always gonna be there. . .

[@bernardgemelli3938]

I wish The Morey Brothers bought that pier too, those were great rides.

[@robkrasinski6217]

The Morey's bought the pier in 1999-2000. They determined after 10 years of sitting dormant that the Golden Nugget was unfeasible to restore to operation. Yet Knoebels was able to reuse the track and make a new ride. Jack and Will took over ownership of the company sometime after their father Wilbert Morey passed away which was January 1998. Old Bill Morey Wilbert's brother passed away last year.

[@adamshuhart8633]

They did. It only has maintenance shops on it now.

[@rwk360]

The spook house was probably Whacky Shack. It was a Bill Tracy dark ride built in 1964 from an Allan Herschell trailer darkride Devils Inn. Ironically, Bill Tracy moved his company from North Bergen to Cape May Court House in 1967 (renaming it Amusement Display Associates from Outdoor Dimensional Displays) after he did most of his Wildwood projects.

[@Droodog127]

the guy in the suit looks so familiar , my brother worked on Hunts pier think 84/85 I was at the airport at SJA off the Island in 1988

[@DelbertSting-th7if]

I remember the summer of 88 like it was yesterday. I was 15. My family borrowed a friend’s conversion van and my mom, dad great aunt, me, my younger sister, newborn sister, my sister’s friend carrie,and my best friend Bucky all went to wildwood for a vacation in late July. My parents and great aunt stayed at the bal harbor with the baby and us kids got to stay at the conca d’or just steps from the beach. Appetite of destruction and hysteria were topping the billboard and the country was thriving. What I wouldn’t give to be right back there.

[@funchase]

Priceless memories.

[@funchase]

Your Uncle Lou is the Duke of Cool. The man is ageless - French Louie is a true Wildwood Legend.

[@lemerdeposteur]

That 3 screams and a roar recording is burnt into my memory

[@Primogen18]

You should try it out as Black Diamond, Knoebels did a great job with the recreation and retheming of this ride. Although I never rode the original it is great to be able to see some video of it!

[@marymccloskey9450]

Hunts Pier was wonderful.

[@ElleCee62978]

I miss the Flyer, the train and Keystone Kops most of all. I had my foot stuck on the Golden Nugget so I don’t miss that one a whole lot. I was 10 in 88.

[@rwk360]

Bill Tracy passed away Aug 1974, and his company was taken over by other men and then Jim Melonic who still has a company today.

[@charlieirvin5423]

One of my best rides It's all gone The nugget and the log flume ride Really miss them Like loosing a best friend. and i'm serious about this.

[@jamiefolk]

I have some great memories going on those rides with my mom and grandfather. It's a shame that Hunts pier is gone and they haven't added rides to the two abandoned piers there.

[@chiaralistica]

Log Flume was the best!

[@kkaiser.8521]

My dad said that he loved this pier when he was a kid

[@Bubbarx]

Wow, I am 52, and I can remember every year going down to Wildwood, starting in the 60's, and always checking to see if there was a new LV. Even did it in 1998 last year of the Nugget, I got up there and figured no way, and there it was, LV. Could not believe it. That is a piece of Wildwood history. They should give you that piece of wood.

[@bernardgemelli3938]

THE MOREY BROTHERS SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THIS PIER TOO! FANTASTIC MEMORIES!

[@trentaccid2177]

HUNTS PIER MANAGEMENT HAD RESPECT AND THEY NEVER WOULD ALLOW STAFF OR PATRONS TO WALK AROUND ON THE PIER WITH NO SHIRTS ON. SADELY THIS PIER ONCE GREAT FELL WAY DOWN.

[@mikeking6263]

Remember the bumper cars and ski ball? On my way in August but remember going since the 50s

[@funchase]

Thanks Dude - I'm glad you enjoy the site.

[@rwk360]

The Nugget IS being removed next year. Most of the props were saved, though for use in Morey's other dark rides, thanks to Anthony (MrBoardwalk) and Ralph (funchase). I loved the Nugget when it was open, I rode it between 1980-1983 with my father who passed March 8, 1986, and again June 96, and June, 98. I will certainly miss it if I go back to Wildwood but like that they saved most of the props for public viewing in other dark rides. Better to save them now before they rot away and fall apart.

[@BB-dh6sw]

My Wildwood Times 1950s & 60’s - With Parents & Grandparents 1970’s - Early 70’s with Parents, later 70’s with Friends and Girlfriends 1980’s - Random with Friends and mostly Girlfriends. 1990’s - Early 90’s with Girlfriends, mid to later w/ Step Children and new son, along with sisters, brothers, cousins, and friends. 2000’s - Random summer vacations, mostly with family, a few long weekends with the wife. Last big family vacation was last 2016. Recent years - Wife and I mainly do long weekends at Cape May B&B’s.

[@robkrasinski6217]

It still makes me sick what happened to the pier, 1989 must have been a sad year for people as they saw their favorite rides vanish. And Dino Beach closing after 1998 didn't help, either. I wish someone other than Morey's would have bought it in 1999 and restored the Nugget where it was, kept the Log Flume and Rapids, and take the dinosaur theming away and retheme the pier as something else. That option would have been better than what we have now although the mirror maze at the front of the pier looks nice. There were potential buyers like Pat Croce (who planned to keep and restore the Nugget) and the Titus family of Wildwood (who planned to build a waterpark on the rear) but none of those panned out. A single pier can't compete with Morey's 3 piers, though.

[@Mooker_43]

Well the nugget has been restored and resurrected as the black diamond at knoebels amusement resort! :D

[@ruthpullis9279]

I love Diamond Beach I used to go looking for the little cute diamonds when I was little. I was in the Wildwood Crest areaI was 5 years old and I love going to the beach going to the pier. I wish this pair was still here it was the best Wildwood. I used we used to go to the Zoo that was fun when I was a kid. And there were days when my mom would go and rent all of us a bike and we would go ride the bikes on the boardwalk those were the days.

[@RobFuz]

This is GOLD…Nugget :)

[@Catatouille101]

I wish I went on some of these rides while they were still there.

[@terrymazur8905]

They were the good old days

[@BB-dh6sw]

What I wouldn't give to ride the Golden Nugget again....

[@BB-dh6sw]

Was just thinking the exact same thing. P

[@Eagles.Will.Win.Super.Bowl.59]

Pretty sure at 4:49 it said botomless shaft on a sign above you. I was on this in 1986 when I was 9 and will never forget that ride. It scared me when I read that. Keystone capers was cool too. Just got back from wildwood yesterday, I miss all of those old school rides including castle dracula.

[@chiaralistica]

Oh, the memories...

[@rwk360]

I still miss this place, the younger people today will never know it the way it was, except through websites. At least the Golden Nugget Mine is still there although it needs work to get it back into service and for it to be safe for the public again. Let's hope Morey's does the right thing with it. I visited Hunt's between 1980-1983 and 1995-1996-1998 when it was half closed in 1995, and then Dinosaur Beach for three years. What I wouldn't give for new versions of the old dark rides to be built

[@funchase]

Thanks Carl - I knew you'd enjoy that.

[@rwk360]

Great job on getting a complete ride of the Golden Nugget, as we may never be able to ride it again. It's either going to sit there or be razed. Today's kids don't have the same appreciation for this kind of stuff that kids in the 60's, 70's, and 80's did. It would take a MIRACLE to get the Nugget running again. There's a thread about the possible demolition at doo-wop preservation league forum. The granddaughter of Bud Hunt (the former owner until late 1985), huntspier4ever Kristen posts there.

[@dankohner]

I alsways used to ride the Keystone Cops ride along with the pirate ship at the back of the pier. Also enjoyed the Busy Bee ride along with the train that ran around the Flyer and the little car ride that was under the Flyer.

[@rwk360]

The description says worked for the Hunt organization from 1980 through 1990, I thought the Hunt ownership ended when Bud Hunt sold the pier and theatres in early 1986? The pier continued as Hunt's Pier from 1986 through 1990 under new ownership, and the theatres were sold to the Frank Company. And the pier and theatres were split up in 1986, with separate ownerships.

[@curtmackey4951]

Yes. David Kami bought Hunts pier in 1986 I did the electric for the new rollercoaster.

[@rwk360]

You'll be riding a wood coaster over Hunt's Pier again, in a few years although all you'll see on the pier then will be metal sheds. You will board the coaster at Morey's Pier, though. As for the Nugget, only the track and trains are going to Knoebels which suggests that they're going to build an entirely new ride with them. Perhaps a coal mine ride since they have the mining museum? The props are going into Morey's four dark rides on the three piers.

[@QueensKnightOut]

Was that Gus Mason at the beginning of the film walking up the ramp to the coaster?

[@funchase]

Yes, it is.

[@rwk360]

I saw a close up of the Whacky Shack entrance with a sign saying Whacky Fun! Stay in car, etc. Shame there's no ride-through video. Does anyone remember what the order of the stunts were, I know there were classic Bill Tracy stunts like sawmill, clock, knit-wit, and crooked mine. I saw it in person outside at night between 1980-1983 but failed to ride it. The Whacky Shack letters slowly turned back and forth and there was a howl sound like a werewolf. The carts would disappear into the unknown.

[@nickpalance3622]

The slowly turning whacky shack letters .. I remember that! Wasn’t there (on the way out) a crescent moon 🌙 window (like an outhouse) and if you looked inside was a cruddy toilet 🚽 with hands coming out?

[@russellstorms2674]

Can you tell me about hunts peir in Wildwood new jersey and how old were you then and are you married. How was it back then.

[@DaveZoneCreations]

I’m curious what these ride operators are up to now.

[@nickpalance3622]

Joining AARP 😂 (as a minor 70s/80s I can identify with that) Now if you’ll excuse me I have 5 or 6 meds to take

[@TronisEdison]

idk if this was super late in the season or a slow weekday, or if places just weren’t as populated back then

[@ahorsewithnoname773]

It definitely got crowded back then too. I think this is just early in the day when most people were probably still at the beach. Or like you said filmed either early or late in the season.

[@nickpalance3622]

A few years earlier in early 80s it seemed plenty crowded past dinner time. We’d go on Thursday evenings, getting there an hour or maybe two before sunset. My memories are passing the haunted castle and boat ride (entering thru a skull, right?) and hitting up the arcade just as you reach the boardwalk. Then some rides on Mariner’s Landing. I particularly remember the go carts in back (before the water park existed) that were partly “underground” and partly outdoors.. ride that before sunset. Then we’d head towards Hunts Pier with an arcade stop along the way. I remember Golden Nugget with the sun still shining even if barely so. The beginning of the GN were you are on the top level riding past cactus 🌵 plants burns in my mind. I’m of the opinion that the daylight/dark contrast (upon entering the mine) makes it great. I’m sure I must’ve ridden after sunset a few times… but it’s been decades sorry. It would be dark by the time we went to Gateway 26 and Morey’s Pier. Ride the go carts there too. I couldn’t believe they were gone when I tried to find them by the Gravitron and had to ask and heard that they were only at Mariner’s and the southern pier (that we never went to in my childhood) … I should mention this was maybe ten years ago and I wanted my kid to ride as I had .. I would if I still fit but too many Curley Fries over the years. 😂 Before heading back we’d have pizza at a location that I want to say was across from Morey’s Pier .. like it was carved out of Gateway 26 ,, or was it just past G26? Or did G26 expand over the years? Oh wait, sometimes we went to Sportland Pier. And there was “Fascination” across from it. I didn’t know it was called Fascination back then. And we played a game nearby where you’d shoot a cork from a BB gun rifle (or some sort of air rifle) and you had to knock a ping pong ball (likely weighted down with some filling) off the top of a glass bottle. I found a bunch a points saved up with my dads stuff some years ago. Heading back, past Douglas Fudge and the pavilion across from it (the lil’ Scottie dog is still there right?) there was The Hot Spot and an arcade on the beach side of the boardwalk. I recall they had Tapper and Tron and I’d play those there. Then past the walk through castle and the boat/moat ride. (I never did those attractions until my college years in the 90s, but probably more fun when 19-20 and with friends vs 10-12 with family). If memory serves, wasn’t there an arcade on the street that turned into Laser Tag? So much changed there .. mostly things disappearing. In fact I look at the Funchase web site and see things that must have gone away or substantially changed by 79-80. I want to say by ‘79 there was a fire or some deconstruction around there. My dad took me there off season during a weekend (daytime) to see whatever had happened. It’s after this we started going most summer weeks. Like just before Pac Man came out. The 2600/VCS was starting to catch on (due to Space Invaders and Asteroids etc) and I was entering grade school and knew enough to put $0.25 on to play Sega’s Monaco GP (sit down version of course) but didn’t know enough that it HAD to be in the form of a quarter 😂 luckily a nice arcade attendant explained it to me and swapped my nickels and dimes for quarters. Okay I guess my dad gave me quarters but I must have had some change already and figured I could use it. What is implied here is my dad is “nearby” playing the video poker and black jack for points to win prizes (that was his fun) and I was not a watched closely enough for him to see my nickel and dime mistakes as in those days that was okay and safe. I was like 7-8 or something so I was able to take care of myself 😂😂 and I turned out just fine (!!)

[@jerseytomato100]

80s dudes with their spiked hair! love it

[@curtmackey4951]

I saw Bozo and french Louie. Love It! We worked together. I got pics if interested

[@rwk360]

What? No on-ride video of the Whacky Shack? Or inside the Pirate Ship?

[@rwk360]

Sorry to break the bad news, but it seems that the Golden Nugget might be razed this winter. The thing is 48 years old, and it would cost a lot of money to bring it back. It was SBNO for 10 years. Perhaps the Morey's have given up attempting to save it. Who knows. Now I wish someone else other than the Morey's would have gotten the pier in 1999 and kept the Nugget running and maintained. Letting it sit and rot was no way to treat it. Better pray that it's still there in 2009.

[@funchase]

That's correct, Robert.

[@ElleCee62978]

I got kicked in the face on the giraffe bounce house on Morey’s Pier at 2:15.

[@mawhinney420]

Yup! Those are his initials.

[@cdpoint1]

yes

[@GuyWithTheThingOnTheTable]

7:09 What is the story there? Lol

[@rwk360]

IF they would reopen it, how would they market a simple 1960 era ride to a new young 2000's generation raised on internet and high-tech thrills? It might be nostalgic for the baby boomers (born 1940-1959) and Gen-X (born 1966-1979), though. Anyway, an announcement about what the plans for it is coming Mon. Dec. 8.

[@nickpalance3622]

Posting this reply 15 years later, we know that the track and cars went to PA and the building was razed. I wonder if it was more the building than track and cars that doomed it. I’m sure nature took its toll over the years especially without upkeep. As for what the kids want or expect. Hmmm. Has that reasoning changed amusement rides fundamentally in the past 15 years? Sure, there are “E-ticket” rides with new or upgraded tech down in FL. But horses still go up and down and around and around and bring smiles to faces. The Gravitron (or whatever they’re calling it these days) is only a cooler hipper version of the Hell Hole and Rotor. The Round Up just adds another dimension to it (saw one of those at a Six Flags in early 2000s). People still ride the buccaneer and bumper cars. So why the self doubt and second guessing the classics of Wildwood? The Scrambler is the Scrambler whether it was in Wildwood or the now defunct Wonderland Pier of Ocean City (NJ) or at Hershey Park. (Side note: anyone remember the fiberglass-car Scrambler knock off called the Sizzler [iirc]?) People line up for Peter Pan and Small World. Too bad Mr.Toad left FL (gotta get to CA one day) and Snow White’s Scary Adventures are gone. Kids love fun things. As kids get older there will be some that prefer Cedar Point and roller coaster after roller coaster. But I doubt many grade school pre-teens wouldn’t have a good time. People still go to baseball games for crying out loud! Talk about waiting around for something to happen watching grown men chewing spitting and scratching. 😂 Know what’s “in” these days? 12” vinyl discs with music on them! I’d show you but my kid has my instant (non digital) camera and my 35mm camera (takes this stuff called “film”) 😂😂 The more things change the more they stay the same. After sending my offspring to college I now find myself devoid of minivan. Got me a VW with THREE pedals. Winder break is coming up and my kid is looking forward to this shifting of the stick. We gotta pass it on. The art and the tech .. everything. In the long run I think somethings will lessen but not completely go away. New stuff will largely supplant the old but the future is a mix. The 2024 elections just happened and the new voting machines here are hybrid. Past two decades we had a poster overlaying a matrix of electronic buttons and a red LED would shine through the paper to show you what you chose. New electronic machines this year where the choices get printed on paper (behind what I presume is tamper proof glass) and you are prompted if you agree with the print out before committing (and the print out is sucked into a secure storage box it seems). So again old meets new. (I’m getting old and getting new pains 😂)

[@TomDeVito]

So sad they had to close it the morey's brothers should of purchase hunt's at lease they use it for storage better than it left to rot away

[@robkrasinski6217]

+Mr_2011 Chevy Mailbu Well, they did, in 1999-2000 but by then all that was left was the Nugget, Flume, and Rapids, and the metal buildings Dino Beach built in early 1996. Dino Beach took all their transportable rides with them after they closed, some went to Steel Pier like Crazy Mouse and some were sold. Morey's wasn't interested in redeveloping it as a full amusement pier because they felt three piers was enough.

[@TomDeVito]

+Rob Krasinski Ah ok. I know the golden nugget was moved to PA but I forget what they renamed it, I guess whatever rides steel didn't want they either sold for scrap or went to a museum. Is there anything remaining from hunts pier or did they demolish it? I haven't been down to wildwood in a while

[@robkrasinski6217]

No original rides left, the Nugget was the last standing, now it's just the two metal sheds Dino Beach built early 1996 plus two low ones built where the Flume and Nugget were, and the mirror maze and Sand Jamm on the front by the boardwalk.

[@TomDeVito]

+Rob Krasinski Gotcha I was born back in 1991 so I don't remember going onto hunts pier but I do remember going onto money's and adventure last September I went down to wildwood unfortunately pretty much everything was dead for the season lol

[@randomtraveler9854]

The Golden Nugget now belongs to a Pennsylvania park called Knoebels, who reused its track to build the Black Diamond.

[@Bubbarx]

Was uncle Lou LV?

[@jjobie]

:( yeah...

[@funchase]

I know just how you feel...

[@bernardgemelli3938]

THAT WAS A TERRIFIC PIER! TOO BAD MOREYS DID NOT BUY IT!

[@frythatchick78]

ill pray

[@GuyWithTheThingOnTheTable]

3:05

[@Eagles.Will.Win.Super.Bowl.59]

This woman ruined the word business for the rest of human eternity.

[@funchase]

Wouldn't that be nice...