Return to Press Releases

News from the Jersey Cape
Generations of Visitors LOVE Strolling the Boardwalk

Although more than a century has passed since the first wooden planks were laid across the sand, one thing has remained constant for visitors to resorts on the Jersey Cape: generation after generation of visitors love strolling on the boardwalk.

By day, boardwalks in Cape May County serve a variety of purposes: a destination to grab a bite during a break from the sun and fun on the beach, or a place to shop without the hustle and bustle of nighttime crowds. In the morning, the boards are large bicycle paths, often with families taking a leisurely ride and enjoying the seaside scenery. Waterparks on the boardwalks are popular spots every afternoon and early evening as visitors enjoy slippery and wet poolside fun as an alternative to the beach and ocean.

The Ocean City Boardwalk has Gillian’s Island Waterpark on the Boardwalk at Plymouth Place with Gillian’s Island and its twisting, slippery slides, tube rides and a lazy river. For the little ones, Li’l Bucs Bay is a water playground with activities for children.

In the Wildwoods you’ll find three waterparks along the Boardwalk. Ocean Oasis on the Boardwalk at 26th Avenue has a tropical atmosphere with plenty of activity pools and slides for children of all ages. More like a beach club, Ocean Oasis has poolside food service and an adults-only area serving those luscious tropical libations while the youngsters enjoy the thrills.
Raging Waters on the Boardwalk at Schellenger Avenue has some terrific slides and rides including Shotgun Falls, drop slides, tube slides, speed slides, an Endless River and several play areas for younger children.

Splash Zone, also on the Boardwalk at Schellenger Avenue (on the west side), features 13 slides and attractions including Adventure River, speed slides, raft rides, and enormous buckets of water that rain down on those daring enough to stand underneath.

With so much to do on the Jersey Cape’s boardwalks during the day, it’s hard to imagine it could get any better….but it does! When the sun sets the county’s boardwalks come alive in a sea of dazzling neon colors complemented with tantalizing aromas and a cacophony of joy and excitement.

Ocean City’s Boardwalk is more than two miles of fun. Families wander into the shops to browse and buy or take a break in the eateries, but the prime destination is usually one of the walk’s two amusement piers, Gillian's Wonderland Pier at Sixth Street and Playland’s Castaway Cove at 10th Street.

With more than 30 rides, Wonderland Pier is a pay-as-you-go park that allows visitors to ride as many – or few – amusements as they like without having to pay the price of admission. Playland’s Castaway Cove has been providing fun for the whole family for nearly half a century. Today there are more than 30 exciting rides including the Double Shot, a vertical-drop ride that will take your breath away. Visitors will also thrill to the park’s four roller coasters - something for every age rider.

The Wildwoods Boardwalk, which stretches for two miles, has more rides than Disney World with the Morey family operating three amusement piers on the Boardwalk. At 25th Avenue on the border of North Wildwood and Wildwood, is the original Morey’s Pier, still featuring the ride that started the Morey’s amusement empire, the Wipe Out giant slide. This pier has no less than 30 amusements, including the Nor’Easter, an exhilarating ride on a custom-designed suspended looping coaster. While there is an abundance of kiddy rides, there is no shortage of rides that will provide a nice kick for adults and teens.

Morey’s second pier, at Schellenger Avenue, has 32 attractions as diverse and exciting as the rides on the pier to the north. For coaster aficionados, the Sea Serpent is this pier’s must-ride amusement, a high-speed looping coaster with two 120-foot hills that takes you upside down three times forward, then does it again in reverse! At 55 miles an hour, the serpent strikes quickly! Another must-do on Morey’s Pier is the giant Ferris wheel, one of the largest such amusement rides on the East Coast. It stretches 156 feet above the sand and provides the best view of the Wildwoods. In the evening, the Ferris wheel’s state-of-the-art lighting system is visible from all over the island as it paints a rainbow of colors against the backdrop of nighttime.

There are about 20 amusements on the Spencer Avenue Morey’s Piers, the newest addition to the Morey group. For roller coaster purists, this pier has the crème de la crème of roller coasters: the wooden Great White coaster.

The boardwalks also anchor other special events: Ocean City’s Boardwalk is home to the Music Pier which serves as that resort’s entertainment center. The Wildwoods Convention Center, home to a plethora of shows, gatherings and entertainment offerings, has its address right on the Boardwalk.

No matter where your travels take you throughout the Jersey Cape, be sure to spend some days and nights on the county’s boardwalks. They’re the places where millions of children of every generation for the past century have made everlasting memories.

Return to Press Releases

Attention... Cape May County Organizations... Join the Cape May County Community Calendar...