map2Continued from Part 1.

I exited Wildwood using the Wildwood/Stone Harbor bridge. This is one of several, independently operated toll bridges that connect the barrier islands of New Jersey along a 50 mile road known as Ocean Drive. I rustled up $1.50 in stray quarters hanging around my car’s center console to pay the toll only to find that the toll booth was closed. I’m not complaining.

Stone Harbor and Avalon are the towns located on the barrier island just north of the Wildwoods. There aren’t any amusement parks and little in terms of year round establishments here. I thought Wildwood Crest was desolate, but this place seemed practically devoid of movement. The odd street would have a dumpster and some trucks parked around a house, but I literally saw four cars driving around the whole time there. This is what I love about the shore in the off season. Growing up in northern NJ where congestion is abundant and where the population density is among the highest in the nation, it’s a welcome change to be in place that’s so desolate yet not really in the middle of nowhere.

… February 2014 Jersey Shore Trip Pt.2: Ocean Drive

Wildwood Satellite ImageOn a relatively mild Saturday in late February, I headed down to the southern shore points of New Jersey to see what was going on, or lack thereof. I usually like to make this trip once a year, using my family’s summer house in Brick as a starting point. From my place in north Jersey, it would be a two and a half hour drive to Wildwood, while it takes an hour and change from Brick. I left for Wildwood at about 11am and arrived shortly after 12pm.

… February 2014 Jersey Shore Trip Pt.1: Wildwood

86’d Rides Vol.1: Tumbler

Posted by on February 6, 2014 | 11 comments

I don’t know what it is but I find defunct rides extremely interesting. Maybe it’s because you will never, ever get to experience the ride first hand. I’m not talking about any old defunct rides though, I’m talking about ones that were axed for a number of reasons. Perhaps the ride was too ambitious for its time. Perhaps it was due to an unfortunate accident. Maybe it was 86’d thanks to giving riders an ass whoopin’! In this series, we’re going to take a look at some of these strange, wild, or mysterious rides of the past starting with a beast of late 60s ingenuity.

… 86’d Rides Vol.1: Tumbler

News: January 2014 Edition

Posted by on January 19, 2014 | Add a Comment

Astroland Rocket Returning

Astroland Rocket 2007In September, I wrote about the Astroland Rocket and how it hasn’t been brought back to Coney Island. The previous owner of the Moon Rocket, Carol Albert, had donated the piece to the city of New York back in 2009 with the city promising that it would be featured as a prominent piece of the “new, revitalized amusement and entertainment district.”

The promise stagnated until recently when the Coney Island History Project, a not-for-profit organization aiming to raise awareness of Coney Island’s storied history, put in a proposal to bring the rocket back to Coney Island. In late December, their proposal was granted. The rocket will be part of a new exhibit hosted by the CIHP and located in Deno’s Wonderwheel Park that will feature the history of the Moon Rocket as well as the many space themed attractions at Astroland in the past.

I’ll make sure to do a more in depth post once the rocket and exhibit are up and running. I sure hope we get to go inside the rocket!

… News: January 2014 Edition

busch_picBack in 2009, I did a series of articles about old park maps, brochures, and photos from the past. I called these articles the ‘Crapstravaganza,’ as it was, for all intents and purposes, an extravaganza of amusement related crap. One such week featured a 1991 brochure for Busch Gardens Williamsburg, a relic from my only trip to the park. Honestly, I was surprised to find the brochure back then and thought for sure that its map counterpart was lost forever. Well, apparently not as my father recently stumbled across it within the deep recesses of his junk drawer. Let’s take a look, eh?

First off is the cover and 1991 operating schedule. The cover features a large photo of Loch Ness Monster, arguably the biggest coaster in the park at the time. Inlaid are a couple more photos: one of a show called Stage Struck and another of Roman Rapids. To the left is a schedule and information page. Take note of the prices back in 1991. A single day admission was $22.95 ($18.95 after 5pm) and a season pass was $64.95 (or $42 if you upgrade your ticket that day…so basically the same amount.) Time travelers, take note of the opening and closing times. I don’t know what the stuff is on the bottom left. Don’t know if I want to know either.

… Park Map: Busch Gardens the Old Country 1991

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