Ocean Pier was constructed during the winter of 1904-05 and cost approximately $150,000.
OCEAN PIER
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Ocean Pier was constructed during the winter of 1904-05 and cost approximately $150,000. |
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The pier was 1,000 feet long and was designed to accommodate 10,000 visitors at a time. Its main building was almost the size of a football field. The first floor of the main building housed refreshment stands, taffy, ice cream, eight bowling alleys, billiards, pool tables, shuffleboard courts, box ball games and a shooting gallery. The main building also featured a grand carousel, complete with a band organ, which delighted riders and visitors alike. |
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The 1905 season was so successful that the owners decided to add new attractions as well as upgrading existing structures. During 1906 through 1907 features such as a skating rink, a $10,000 band organ, an automatic pin setter for the bowling alleys, a new art store and an extension to the pier in order to accommodate a moving picture theater. The pier also included a playground on the beach and hosted a children’s party night every Thursday. Children would enjoy music, singing, refreshments, souvenirs, at Funchase. Funchase was a funhouse that featured a spinning barrel of fun, sliding floors, rocking staircases, a giant slide, a human roulette wheel, and other exciting mechanical attractions. In 1935 Ocean Pier was sold to Bill Hunt, for approximately $200,000, due to a decline in business during the depression years. Hunt’s theaters had done fairly well through the difficult years of 1932-34, resulting in making Hunt one of the few men in the Wildwoods with the economic ability to purchase the pier and make improvements. The improvements included renovating the front of the pier, erecting two new theaters, a circus ring, a giant Kelly Slide and innovative tricks for the fun house. The pier boasted 40 attractions, a full day of fun, for the bargain price of forty-cents per ticket. Hunt added several amusement rides which would play a major role on the pier. Hunt bought a carousel, had a roller coaster commissioned by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, a Ferris wheel, whip ride and a Custer Car ride. |
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Ocean Pier would be sold due to a decline in business during the depression years to Bill Hunt in 1935. Hunt paid around $200,000 for the property. Hunt's theaters had done fairly well through the tough years of 1932-34, and were one of the few men in the Wildwoods who could afford to buy the pier and make improvements. These improvements include renovating the front of the pier, two new theaters, circus ring, a giant Kelly Slide and tricks for the fun house. The pier offered 40 attractions for a single forty-cent ticket. The amusement ride added played a major role on the pier, Hunt bought a carousel and had a roller coaster constructed by Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Also Hunt added a Ferris wheel, Whip ride, and a Custer Car ride. |
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In 1936, the Marine deck was added and in 1938 the Jack and Jill slide, Mystery Maze, Witch’s Forrest, glass blowers, live bunny and bird village, the worlds largest miniature train exhibit and Laffing Sal. Laffing Sal was an animated lady with an endless laugh recording.
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On Christmas Eve of 1943, the Ocean Pier was completely destroyed by a fire. It would not be until 1956 that Hunt would rebuild a pier on the site of the former Ocean Pier. The new pier Hunt constructed would be constructed out of lightweight concrete and would be called Hunt’s Pier. |
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Special thanks to the Wildwood Historical Society. |
"Hits Since March 13th 2006"
