New Jersey

Historic Jersey Shore amusement park closes after generations of family thrills

Published

1 month ago

October 13, 2024

Historic Jersey Shore amusement park closes after generations of family thrills

By Wayne Parry, The Associated Press

OCEAN CITY, N.J. — For generations of vacationers heading to Ocean City, the towering “Giant Wheel” was the first thing they saw from miles away.

The sight of the 140-foot-tall (42-meter) ride let them know they were getting close to the Jersey Shore town that calls itself “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” with its promise of kid-friendly beaches, seagulls and sea shells, and a bustling boardwalk full of pizza, ice cream and cotton candy.

And in the heart of it was Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, an amusement park that was the latest in nearly a century-long line of family-friendly amusement attractions operated by the family of Ocean City’s mayor.

But the rides were to fall silent and still Sunday night, as the park run by Ocean City’s mayor and nurtured by generations of his ancestors, closed down, the victim of financial woes made worse by the lingering aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Superstorm Sandy.

Gillian and his family have operated amusement rides and attractions on the Ocean City Boardwalk for 94 years. The latest iteration of the park, Wonderland, opened in 1965.

“I tried my best to sustain Wonderland for as long as possible, through increasingly difficult challenges each year,” Mayor Jay Gillian wrote in August when he announced the park would close. “It’s been my life, my legacy and my family. But it’s no longer a viable business.”

Gillian did not respond to numerous requests for comment over the past week.

People ride the flying chair attraction at Gillian’s Wonderland, the popular amusement park on the boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J., during its final day of operation before shutting down for good, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)AP

Sheryl Gross was at the park for its final day with her two children and five grandchildren, enjoying it one last time.

“I’ve been coming here forever,” she said. “My daughter is 43 and I’ve been coming here since she was 2 years old in a stroller. Now I’m here with my grandchildren.”

She remembers decades of bringing her family from Gloucester Township in the southern New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia to create happy family memories at Wonderland.

“Just the excitement on their faces when they get on the rides,” she said. “It really made it feel family-friendly. A lot of that is going to be lost now.”

There were long lines Sunday for the Giant Wheel, the log flume and other popular rides as people used the last of ride tickets many had bought earlier in the year, thinking Wonderland would go on forever.

A local non-profit group, Friends of OCNJ History and Culture, is raising money to try and save the amusement park, possibly under a new owner who might be more amendable to buying it with some financial assistance. Bill Merritt, one of the non-profit’s leaders, said the group has raised over $1 million to help meet what could be a $20-million price tag for the property.

N.J. amusement park — Rotating letter signs spell out “Wonderland” along the facade of Gillian’s Wonderland, the popular amusement park on the boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J., during its final day of operation before shutting down for good, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)AP

“Ocean City will be fundamentally different without this attraction,” he said. “This town relies on being family-friendly. The park has rides targeted at kids; it’s called ‘Wonderland’ for a reason.”

The property’s current owner, Icona Resorts, previously proposed a $150-million, 325-room luxury hotel elsewhere on Ocean City’s boardwalk, but the city rejected those plans.

The company’s CEO, Eustace Mita, said earlier this year he would take at least until the end of the year to propose a use for the amusement park property.

He bought it in 2021 after Gillian’s family was in danger of defaulting on bank loans for the property.

At a community meeting last month, Gillian said Wonderland could not bounce back from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the pandemic in 2020 and an increase in New Jersey’s minimum wage that doubled his payroll costs, leaving him $4 million in debt.

Mita put up funds to stave off a sheriff’s sale of the property, and gave the mayor three years to turn the business around. That deadline expired this year.

Mita did not respond to requests for comment.

Merritt said he and others can’t imagine Ocean City without Wonderland.

“You look at it with your heart, and you say ‘You’re losing all the cherished memories and all the history; how can you let that go?’” he said. “And then you look at it with your head and you say, ‘They are the reason this town is profitable; how can you let that go?’”

Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC

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New Jersey

MTA worker wins $1 million Powerball payday — and she doesn't care who knows it

Published

2 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Press Room

MTA worker wins million Powerball payday — and she doesn't care who knows it

A New Jersey woman just entered the millionaire club.

The state’s lottery program announced that Stacey Fiore, an MTA supervisor stationed on Staten Island, won the Powerball prize last weekend.

Fiore plays the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries weekly, according to lottery officials.

She ran into her local Quick Stop last Saturday and pulled a quick pick, which turned out to the payday she had long been hoping for.

“I checked the numbers on Monday on the (Lottery’s phone app),” Fiore told the state lottery. “It said ‘Congratulations. You won a million dollars.’”

The winning numbers were 11, 24, 50, 56, and 66.

Fiore was missing the Powerball number, though, keeping her from the big jackpot.

The Barnegat woman has been spreading the good news. She said she does not care about remaining anonymous.

“I went to the bank and asked to speak to the manager. I said ‘You know somebody won $1 million here in town? Well, that’s me!’” Fiore said.

What are her big plans for the money? Fiore is considering a nice vacation with her husband.

Like many others, the MTA supervisor joked to her colleagues about not returning to work if she wins big. Jokes aside, Fiore was back at work this week on Staten Island.

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New Jersey

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer says 'we need to stand up to Trump' in video announcing run for governor

Published

9 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer says 'we need to stand up to Trump' in video announcing run for governor

Democrat New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who announced on Friday that he is running for governor in 2025, suggested the need to “stand up to” President-elect Donald Trump following the “horrible” election outcome.

Gottheimer, who entered into a crowded Democratic field for New Jersey governor, said that Trump’s win was a “terrible loss for America.”

“Let’s pause for a minute, the election outcome was a horrible loss for America. Every candidate running for governor agrees,” he said on Friday at a diner in South Hackensack.

“We need to stand up to Trump,” he said.

HOCHUL SPURS BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE OVER MASSIVE TOLL REBOOT, AS DEMS WORRY TRUMP WILL BLOCK IT

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., announced he is joining the race for New Jersey governor in 2025 and stated the need to “stand up to” President-elect Donald Trump in his campaign video. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Gottheimer pointed to Trump’s stance on abortion, the environment and gun safety as “major issues” with the president-elect.

“On the major issues from healthcare to the environment to gun safety, every candidate shares the same goals, and on the issue of abortion rights, we will all stand up to Trump and his extremist attacks on women’s health care,” he said. “We must reinstate Roe.”

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said that Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election was a “terrible loss for America.” (Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

After promising to “stand up” to Trump, the representative of New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District stated his main priority as governor would be lowering costs for New Jersey residents.

“But there is one more issue that defines who I am, and what I’ll fight for,” he said. “Jersey is now the fourth most expensive state in the entire nation to live in, and unlike everyone else in this race, I’m focused like a laser beam on the need to lower your taxes and lower your costs.”

HOMAN SCOFFS AT HOCHUL’S SUDDEN OUTRAGE OVER VIOLENT MIGRANTS

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said his main priority as New Jersey governor, besides standing up to Trump, would be lowering costs for the state’s residents. (Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Gottheimer joins a slew of Democratic candidates, including former state Sen. Stephen Sweeney, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, in the state’s gubernatorial race.

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The Republican nominees so far include former gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state Sen. Ed Durr, talk radio host Bill Spadea, and candidates Robert Canfield, Jim Fazzone, Hans Herberg and Robert Bacon.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.

Story tips and ideas can be sent to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten.

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New Jersey

Jersey Shore $1 million Powerball winner claims prize: ‘I was just in shock’

Published

18 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Press Room

Jersey Shore million Powerball winner claims prize: ‘I was just in shock’

2-minute read

When Stacey Fiore of Barnegat won $1 million playing the Powerball, she didn’t believe it.

“I usually check my tickets before I go to work, but I forgot,” she told the New Jersey Lottery, while claiming her prize with her husband, Greg Fiore.

“I checked the numbers on Monday on the (phone app),” Stacey said. “It said ‘Congratulations. You won a million dollars.’ … I checked again and it said again that I won.”

Not convinced, Stacey called her husband of 32 years, who confirmed the numbers again.

“I told him he better not be messing with me,” Stacey joked. “And did we buy real tickets?”

Stacey’s was the only ticket in the Saturday, Nov. 9 drawing to match five white balls to win a million dollars as no one won the jackpot. The winning numbers were: 11, 24, 50, 56, and 66 with the Powerball: 16. The ticket was purchased at Quick Stop on West Bay Avenue in Bargnegat (Ocean County).

Stacey, a supervisor for the New York City’s MTA on Staten Island where her husband is also a bus driver, became the 39th New Jersey Lottery draw game player this year to win at least $1 million and the 10th playing Powerball, the lottery agency said.

“I was just in shock. You wait your whole life for this, and you are still in shock,” she said.

In New Jersey, lottery winners can remain annoymous under a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2020, but Stacey doesn’t care.

“I like telling people,” Stacey said. “I went to the bank and asked to speak to the manager. I said ‘You know somebody won $1 million here in town? Well, that’s me!’ She was super excited. It’s nice to celebrate.”

The money won’t change much for the Fiore family, who don’t have major plans except maybe a nice vacation.

“Our kids… they are happy for us,” Greg said. “But they do know Christmas is coming.”

The couple went back to work at the MTA despite their newfound riches.

“Maybe no more overtime for me,” Greg said.

“Oh, there’s still going to be overtime for you!” Stacey joked.

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