Wildwood, New Jersey

Wildwood is a city located in Cape May County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,436. Wildwood is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government. It is home to a popular boardwalk with several amusement piers with Morey's Piers being the most dominant today. Piers of the past include Hunt's Pier (1957-1990) which featured custom built themed rides such as the Whacky Shack, Pirate Ship, Jungleland, Golden Nugget Mine Ride (closed, still standing as of 2004), and Keystone Kops. Nickels Midway Pier which built Castle Dracula, a horror walkthrough attraction with live actors over the 1919 old mill boat ride which was renamed Dungeon. The 1919 Jack Rabbit wooden coaster was renamed Scream Machine, and a few years later, Dracula's Screem Machine. It was demolished in fall 1984. From 1985 through 1998 Nickels had portable rides, mostly children's rides. A fire in late 1992 destroyed the front of the pier including the wax museum, formerly the carousel building. A new food court was built in 1993. In 1999 the rides were removed, but the castle remained open and in 2000 Splash Zone water park opened. In January 2002 Castle Dracula was destroyed by two juvenile males lighting matches to see their way after they broke into the castle, the castle was a total loss and after 25 years of standing and operating, the castle was completely gone. The Dungeon boat ride was lost, too. In summer of 2002 and beyond a bungee trampoline thrill ride operated on the site of the once great castle. Fun Pier at Spencer Av. was home to the Lost World dark ride, Crazy House fun house, Castle Frankenstein horror walkthrough, all burned in 1984. Morey's got the pier in late 1980's and reopened in 1992 as Wild Wheels, home of the Great White wooden coaster, built in 1996, Wildwood's only wooden coaster since the Hunt's Pier Flyer was torn down in 1989.

Related Topics:
Cape May County, New Jersey - 2000 - Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) - Boardwalk - Morey's Piers

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