Gillians Wonderland Pier

Gillian's is a historic amusement park founded in 1929 by David Gillian, who first came to Ocean City in 1914.[1] It is located on the ocean boardwalk of the New Jersey shore.

Gillian's Wonderland Pier
LocationOcean City, New Jersey, United States
Coordinates39.277398°N 74.566757°W / 39.277398; -74.566757
SloganAmusements with the family in Mind!
OwnerJay Gillian
Opened1929
Operating seasonApril to December
Attractions
Total32
Roller coasters1 (Wacky Worm (minor))
Water rides1 (Canyon Falls Log Flume)
Websitegillians.com

History

David started his career in the orchestra at C. Elwood Carpenter's Dance Club (aka The Casino), located over the Moorlyn Theater on the old Boardwalk. In 1917 he transferred to the Hippodrome pier, where he played with Robin Robinson's Orchestra. The Hippodrome had a movie theatre, vaudeville, dancing and amusements for children.

In October 1927, a fire destroyed the Hippodrome,[2] after which the burned boardwalk was replaced in 1928. In 1930 David Gillian opened a Fun Deck at Plymouth Place and the Boardwalk. The two main attractions were a Ferris wheel and a Carousel.

In honor of his 100th birthday in 1990, David Gillian donated a horse from the Carousel to the Ocean City Historical Museum.[3] David Gillian died in March 1993 at the age of 102.

In 1957, David Gillian retired and his sons, Bob and Roy took over from 1957-1977. In 1965 Roy left the family business and started Wonderland Pier at 6th Street and the Boardwalk (where Stainton's Playland had burned down 10 years prior), with 10 rides and a parking lot.

Roy became mayor of Ocean City in 1985, and retired from politics in 1989.[4] In 1994, Roy became the president of IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions). His son, Jay Gillian, became mayor of Ocean City in 2010.

The Gillian family decided to expand their business beyond Ocean City by opening Gillian's Funland of Sea Isle City. Located on JFK Blvd.

Gillian's Wonderland Pier is mostly famous for its 144-foot (44 m) Giant Wheel, one of the largest Ferris wheels on the east coast.

Former rides

Inside Rides
  • Carousel (Philadelphia Toboggan Company #75 1926) - A Wonderland Pier tradition since 1972. A decorative facade made to look like a Wurlitzer style #157 Military Band Organ by Kromer is included, but it does not provide the carousel's music.[10]
  • The Frontier Express Monorail - A Wonderland Pier tradition since 1965.
  • Balloon Race-Manufactured by Zamperla
  • Crazy Submarine-Manufactured by Zamperla
  • Fire Engines-Manufactured by Pinto Bro’s. Operating since the 1940’s.
  • Dune Buggies-Manufactured by Hampton
  • Wet Boats-Manufactured by Alan Herschel
  • Frogs-Manufactured by Zamperla
  • Speedway-Manufactured by Zamperla
  • Bear Bounce-Manufactured by Moser Rides
  • The Man & Dog - An Animatronic band that debuted in 1993.

Mid-Deck Rides
  • Giant Wheel - 144 feet (44 m) tall, one of the largest Ferris wheels on the east coast. A Wonderland Pier tradition since 1989. A new Technical Park model was built in 2001, as well as it’s farther away from the Log Flume than it the 1989-2000 Giant Wheel
  • Musik Express-Manufactured by Bertazzon
  • Raiders-Manufactured by Wisdom Rides
  • Tilt-A-Whirl-Manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing
  • Kite Flyer-Manufactured by Zamperla
  • Bear Affair-Manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing
  • Wacky Worm Roller Coaster [11] There was an old Wacky Worm model that operated at the park from 2005-2010, but that model was relocated to the smaller Gillian’s Funland in Sea Isle City from 2011-2013. However, a newer Wacky Worm model was purchased in 2012 and it made a comeback to the park that same year. After 2013, the old Wacky Worm model now operates at Alabama Splash Adventure in Bessemer, Alabama as Centi-Speed.[12] Manufactured by Fajume
  • Glass House-Manufactured In-House
  • Mini-Skooters-Manufactured by SBF Visa Rides
  • Swings

Lower Lot Rides
  • Canyon Falls Log Flume - A Wonderland Pier tradition since 1992. Manufactured by Hopkins Rides.
  • Skooter Bumper Cars-Manufactured by Bertazzon
  • Moby Dick-Manufacturered by Wisdom Rides
  • Drop Tower-Manufactured by Larson/ARM
  • Haunted House Dark Ride-Manufactured by Sally Corporation
  • Alien Abduction-Manufacturered by Wisdom Rides
  • Chopper Train-Manufacturered by SBF Visa Rides

Upper Deck Rides
  • Jumbo Zamperla
  • Galleon Zamperla
  • Frisbee-Manufacturered by Huss

Accidents

Wild Wonder

On August 28, 1999, two people were killed and two injured when a roller-coaster car lost traction with the rails on a steep ascent and plunged backwards.[13][14] The ride involved with the accident was the Wild Wonder.

Canyon Falls Log Flume

On July 22nd, 2007, 5 people were injured after a loose bolt was believed to be the cause of a malfunction on the ride, causing two logs to collide with each other.

Speedway

On August 25th, 2013, a 4 year old girl was on the platform of the ride as it was about to start. She was then transported to the hospital shortly after. According to a spokeswoman from the NJ Department of Labor & Community Affairs, “the accident was caused by operator error, and the operator was later fired. There we’re no mechanical problems with the ride.

References
  1. Archived November 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Archived August 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Ocean City Historical Museum | Welcome!". Ocnjmuseum.org. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  4. "Mayor extends family legacy in Ocean City | Ocean Beats". Oceancitybeat.wordpress.com. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  5. "City Jet (Gillian's Wonderland Pier)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  6. "Runaway Train (Gillian's Wonderland Pier)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  7. "Miner Mike (Gillian's Wonderland Pier)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. "Fiesta Express (Gillian's Wonderland Pier)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  9. "Wild Wonder (Gillian's Wonderland Pier)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  10. "Gillian's Wonderland Pier, Ocean City, NJ". National Carousel Association. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  11. "Wacky Worm (Gillian's Wonderland Pier)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  12. https://www.alabamasplash.com/attractions/
  13. Mcfadden, Robert D. (1999-08-30). "Roller Coaster Hurtles Wrong Way, Killing 2". Ocean City (Nj): NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  14. "5 deadly roller coaster accidents". Globalnews.ca. 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
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