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What To Do With Wonderland
🎡 Ocean City, NJ's only weekly newsletter

from (@mattphoto._) on Instagram
Hello, and welcome to our 600 (!) new subscribers since our last send— especially those of you who found us through our sister publication, OCNJ Daily. Unlike pizza prices on the island, we promise not to let you down.
Jam packed newsletter as always this week, including your responses and feedback on what should become of the Wonderland site.
Let’s get to it.
In the email today:
📆 Upcoming Events in (and around) Ocean City
Saturday, October 26
👟 Walk to End Alzheimer’s | Ocean City Civic Center | 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., more details here
🛼 Halloween Costume Skate | Ocean City Skate Park | 4 p.m. to dusk
🐕 Howl-O-Ween Parade | Boardwalk | Full details here
Saturday and Sunday, October 26-27
🐶 Dog Days on the Boardwalk | Ocean City Boardwalk | Leashed dogs are permitted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday
Thursday, October 31
🎃 Traditional Trick-or-Treating | Ocean City | Official hours are 5-8 p.m.
See more local events right here.
You can see the full list of events in all nearby Shore towns with the following links: Ocean City | Sea Isle | Margate | Avalon | Stone Harbor | Somers Point | Wildwood | Cape May | Ventnor
Also note the Ocean City Library has many events for adults and kids alike on their calendar, which can be viewed here.
🎡 Mayor Gillian Tells People To Move on From Wonderland
Last week, Mayor Gillian spoke to about 100 people at a town hall event, urging them to move on from Wonderland.
He said it was time to “say goodbye” and begin to focus on plans for development
those plans will come from developer Eustace Mita, who has told the city he needs about six months to study the property before coming up with one
A local preservation group called Friends of OCNJ History & Culture has been raising money (apparently up to $1 million, mostly from one donor) to save the site
They see three options for saving it:
1) raising enough money to buy it from Mita
2) Mita donating the land to a non-profit that would run an amusement park
3) the city acquiring the land through eminent domain
All of those feel about as likely as Wonder Bear barricading himself inside the old shooting gallery and going out Wild West-style.

“over my dead body”
So, we slide back to reality, and consider your thoughts on the most likely scenario— some sort of hotel + commercial establishment.
🗣️ Your Responses To Our Wonderland Poll
The Question
Our poll question last week

The Results
Based on hundreds of responses
I don't like it, keep the amusement park: 57%
I like it, but only if they keep some amusements: 26%
I like it, and they don’t need to keep amusements: 9%
Other and indifference: 8%
That’s a whopping 83% of respondents who want to keep at least some amusement features.
The comments:
As a condo owner that overlooks Wonderland, I will have a hard time relaxing on my deck and not seeing the Ferris wheel and other amusement rides up and running.
I feel that if a hotel is at that end of the boards, there will not be enough parking at the Civic Center where all the special events are held; i.e., baby parade, ALS walk, etc.
I'm rather skeptical about a "luxury boutique hotel" built on the boardwalk in the 2020s-30s but I guess at one point in time, the Flanders was a similar venture. Or even the Port-O-Call. Wonderland was getting prohibitively expensive and regardless of what everyone is saying about SAVING Wonderland, I really have to question whether it was/is worth saving. I have taken my kids and grandkids to Playland's Castaway Cove over the decades but I rarely bothered with Wonderland (although I do have fond memories of Wonderland from when I was a kid, some 60 yrs ago).
A hotel and restaurant would be fine as long as it isn’t a high rise obstructing views I don’t understand all the fuss about keeping carnival rides
Maintain height restrictions. We don't want to become OC Maryland - UGH! No huge hotel on the boardwalk.
I’d like to see another amusement park. Ocean City is a family town. That’s what should be first! Entertain the children. At least keep the Ferris wheel. That’s a staple coming into town
Keep OC a fun, family town. We don't need fancy hotels and restaurants!
They need another amusement park for the area especially for the little kids who cannot ride any rides at playlands. It's unfair to those families who spend a pretty penny for a week at OC.
A hotel may work, but not the super luxury hotel he envisions. If built, you know he'll appeal to serve liquor at the hotel. That then becomes a very slippery slope.
For what it’s worth: Mita said it will take him six months to make a decision. Mind you, almost any proposal would yield a public debate and require subsequent city approval.
Still, given his Icona hotels in other parts of the Jersey Shore and prior proposals for a hotel at this location, the speculation is warranted.
🤳 My Take on What To Do With Wonderland
Kyle writing here…
The knee-jerk reaction to pretty much anything in Ocean City is anti-change. That’s reasonable given the city’s old-timey, wholesome vibes.
But there are limits to that sort of conservative approach.
At a certain point, nostalgia impedes progress.
So I share 2 views:
1) Some sort of family-friendly attraction should remain. Wonderland Pier was an “anchor tenant”, so to speak, not just for the Boardwalk, but the island as a whole.
In many ways, it was Ocean City, much the same way the Magic Kingdom is Disney World. It helped define the city’s nature.
The Ferris Wheel, which I’ll capitalize here because I can, is iconic. It’s not only part of the skyline, in many ways it is the skyline.
Hell, it’s our Emoji in every email for a reason. 🎡
The benefits Wonderland brought to the city far exceed its direct financial benefits to its owner, so the Mayor and city would be wise to keep that in mind in considering proposals for the site. You can’t just pave paradise and put up a parking lot if you want to keep the vibe.
They should ensure that the site continues to benefit the city overall and reinforce the city’s claim as “America’s Greatest Family Resort.” And, I would argue, that means, at a minimum, finding a way to keep the iconic Ferris Wheel.
2) There is no law of nature that says a kid-friendly amusement park is the only option that would benefit the city.
A hotel, shops, a good restaurant or two, or some combination of them, could all benefit the city and allow it to maintain its position as a family-friendly resort.
Let’s be honest, while quaint, most of the kiddie rides at Wonderland were outrageously dated, and weren’t moving the needle for anyone older than a toddler.
Interests change, technology advances, and a revived amusement park would have to do better than what was there.
What’s more, people complain about unsightly hotels and parking, but frankly I can’t think of an attraction that is more visually and audibly intrusive than AN AMUSEMENT PARK. By their very nature, they are big, loud, and bright. Oh, and I suspect they require more parking than, say, a hotel, with a finite number of rooms and guests.
So I think the arguments about sightlines and parking are unfair. It just so happens the intrusive sights and sounds of this particular amusement park were our sights and sounds. We just don’t like change.
I am personally not against a hotel, but it would have to benefit the community as a whole. It couldn’t just be an over-priced, 3.5-star affair with parking, pool, and amenities that serve only its guests.
I’d look to Congress Hall in Cape May for inspiration.
Sure, you’re not going to manufacture 200-year-old mystique, all the history, and probable ghosts that go with it using modern lumber and a branding agency.
But what you can do is take cues from how Congress Hall serves as a hub - an anchor, if you will - for Cape May’s shopping district.
Like Wonderland, Congress Hall sits, BIGLY, at one end— a must-see destination that offers fine dining, a shop, family-friendly entertainment, and yes, a spot to have a drink. It’s serene.

It wasn’t always this way.
During the 20th century, the Cape May seafront deteriorated, with tourists heading to other shore resorts. In 1968, Congress Hall was purchased by the Rev. Carl McIntire and became part of his Cape May Bible Conference. McIntire's possession of the property preserved the hotel during a period in which many Victorian-era beachfront hotels were demolished for the value of their land.
With the decline of the Bible Conference, Congress Hall fell into a state of disrepair, with the hotel closing in 1992, though retail space in the building remained in use. The property was partially restored under the guidance of Curtis Bashaw, McIntire's grandson, a $22 million restoration began in 1995 and completed in 2002. Congress Hall is a resort hotel and part of the Cape Resorts family of hotels.
Hmm. A historic landmark that fell into disrepair and, through investment and restoration, not only has thrived, but also has accentuated and built on its history.
Through that lens, a hotel, with restaurants, shops, and publicly-accessible family-friendly fare… like an old carousel, Ferris Wheel, and perhaps a little blue train, seems like it would work at 6th and the Boardwalk. I’m not gonna touch the drinking aspect, though— that’s for another email.
🌊 Flood of Concerns
Trenton is once again drawing the ire of local lawmakers, as Gov. Phil Murphy has issued an executive order related to climate change that could have a significant impact on Ocean City and other shore communities.
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know:
What happened: Murphy directed the Department of Environmental Protection to implement new flood elevation rules designed to protect the state’s coast from climate change and rising sea levels. The Resilient Environments and Landscapes regulations are also referred to by the acronym NJ PACT/REAL.
What that means in Ocean City: If the regulations take effect, “that could dramatically change building standards, construction costs, insurance costs, affordability of housing and much more,” according to the Oct. 18 Mayor’s Message.
Left out: State Assemblyman Antwan McClellan of Ocean City and State Sen. Michael Testa have accused Murphy of pulling an end-around on the state legislature via executive order and allowing the DEP to operate without any checks.
The big issue: Murphy’s proposed regulations call for construction in areas vulnerable to rising sea levels would need to be built five feet ABOVE existing federal flood elevation levels. Testa said Murphy’s projections are based on “a doomsday scenario” for climate change-related impacts and claimed the plan is based on a debunked study.
Both lawmakers are concerned the rules would make it too expensive for homeowners to elevate their homes and force people to move away from the shore. Testa also said he believes Murphy’s rules could violate federal access protections for people with disabilities.
Next steps: The regulations are currently in the public comment process through Nov. 3. Cape May County and its 16 municipalities have adopted resolutions to acknowledge climate change, but formally express their concerns and ask Murphy to pump the brakes. Business leaders have also spoken out. “These sweeping changes are moving forward without any vote or input from the state Legislature, and they would impact almost everybody in town in some way,” Mayor Gillian said.
Learn more: FOCUS, a local political action group which has supported the mayor and several members of City Council, is holding a free presentation on Murphy's executive order. It has been moved to the Ocean City Tabernacle due to the high demand. It is this Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.— you can find more information and register here.
🧠 Use Your Imagination

Ocean City has closed its acquisition of the entire city block from 16th to 17th Streets between Haven and Simpson Avenues, plus a section on the opposite side of 16th Street. And now the city wants public feedback on “how best to preserve this tract while providing for the enjoyment of the public” as part of a corridor stretching between 15th and 20th Streets.
Got an idea? Share it here!
🐶 Underdog Day Afternoon
Ocean City’s annual Howl-O-Ween Parade today will have a fitting grand marshal.
Philadelphia Eagles legend Vince Papale — the gritty special teams player who made the Birds through an open tryout in 1976 and was the subject of the film Invincible — will do the honors.
The parade features a procession of costumed dogs and owners as Man’s Best Friend gets a special dispensation to be on the boardwalk this weekend. It starts at 3 p.m. with day-off registration opening at 2 p.m. at the Ocean City Civic Center.
There will also be dog-specific vendors along the boardwalk on Saturday as well as photo-op stations — Santa Claus will also be in attendance — and the announcement of Ocean City’s “Pet of the Year.” All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Ocean City. More details can be found here.
👮 Boardwalk Bureau

An architecture’s rendering of the substation.
Plans to build a new police substation on the Ocean City boardwalk are full steam ahead.
City Council voted to award a $6.1 million contract to Weatherby Construction & Renovation Corp. of Atlantic City on Thursday night.
A pre-construction meeting to set a timeline is expected in the coming days, and work is expected to begin this year and the substation should be done in 2025.
The substation will be built on what is currently a municipal parking lot. But OC Waterpark made a last-minute push to change that, advocating for a property swap with their adjacent Eighth Street parcel.
The park’s co-owners argued their land is 20% larger than the city’s property and would provide better access to the substation while the city land would give their business more parking space.
But Mayor Jay Gillian said the city parcel “fits perfect” and City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said it is preferable given its closer proximity to the boardwalk.
🎟️ Tickets and Discounts
Yes, Halloween is still a few days away. And yes, you can now get your tickets for this year’s Jolly Trolley Lights Tour.
There will be two tours of Ocean City’s lights this year on Dec. 17, plus a picture with Santa Claus and a Christmas craft. The event will run from 5-7 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., starting at the Ocean County Community Center. Tickets are $30 per person and can be found here. Quantities are limited.
🔗 News Links
🤳 Recommendations
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Thanks! Enjoy the weekend.
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