Explore

I’m not originally from NJ, but I just passed my 8 year anniversary of moving to NJ. Over the last 8 years, I have come to appreciate what the Wildwoods mean to so many people, including now myself.

The History of the Wildwoods is steeped in classic “dark” attractions like Dracula’s Castle, The Golden Nugget, Haunted House, Star Wars, Planet of the Apes, Keystone Cops and many more. All of these attractions continued to change and develop over time and are now part of our collective past.

Ghost Ship was the resurrection of the classic boardwalk dark attraction. Like its predecessors, it will continue to change, get better, scarier and different as the years go by. Even through its initial season, room changes were added, tricks tweaked, modified and even removed. If you had the chance to experience the Ghost Ship at the beginning and end of the season, it wasn’t the same attraction.

Much to our surprise, Ghost Ship was selected as one of five finalists on an esteemed list of new theme park attractions for 2010, it is a sheer delight to be in the presence of Harry Potter and King Kong.  But what does the inclusion of Ghost Ship really say about the Wildwoods, “America’s Boardwalk” and the millions of people that call the Wildwoods their premier vacation destination?

The Wildwoods are home to America’s Boardwalk and classic seaside resort. Even to this day much of the thrill, sights and sounds of the boardwalk remains the same as it did years ago. Yes, some rides have changed, the music is newer and the people do not dress up in full suits to promenade on the boardwalk, but the culture that the boardwalk instilled in the country is still very prominent every summer day and night.

The award isn’t just another plaque or trophy. It’s an affirmation of The Wildwoods on a national stage, a rebirth of those classic haunted attractions that added to the culturally uniqueness of The Wildwoods. The award will bring national attention back to this unique destination and the classic haunted attraction experience. It isn’t about video games, holographic images, or surround sound; it’s about getting the crap scared out of you!  A win isn’t just for us here at the pier; it’s really for all of you that call the Wildwood Boardwalk your home away from home. After all it really is your boardwalk— we just happen to be its current caretakers.

I would encourage each of you to take a few minutes and vote for the Ghost Ship, we promise this year we are making it even more terrifying that the last, and if you need another reason to vote, do it for the hundreds of workers, companies and individuals that spent countless hours resurrecting this unique attraction that will surely evolve into a boardwalk classic.