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Casino Pier (Seaside Heights) Discussion Thread


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Hey everybody!

 

This thread is simple! Rather than having a million little threads about everything that goes on at Seaside Heights, and Casino Pier in particular, this thread is designed to consolidate it all into one user-friendly thread. Feel free to use it to post updates, trip reports, questions, comments, and of course, general discussion. For pictures and videos of the park as well as past updates, see TPR's Park Index Casino Pier and the former Funtown Pier

 

Casino Pier Official Website

 

Below are some links to past updates from the park, you may be interested in. Enjoy!

 

--Robb

 

2005

March 28th, 2005 - Funtown Pier worker struck by roller coaster (see below)

 

2006

July 6th, 2006 - Funtown Pier may close down and be converted to condos within 3 years

July 19th, 2006 - Pirate's Hideaway coaster being added to Casino Pier

 

2008

July 17th, 2008 - worker serious injured by Star Jet on Casino Pier

 

2012

March 17th, 2012 - Hallow Graves Haunted Mansion returns to Funtown Pier for 2012

October 29th, 2012 - SuperStorm Sandy threatens Seaside Heights

 

 

2013

September 12th, 2013 - Fire destroys southern half of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, spares Casino Pier

 

 

2014

March 27th, 2014 - Casino Pier to add three rides for 2014 including an Air Race

 

 

2015

February 11th, 2015 - Funtown Pier submits plans to rebuild

August 20th, 2015 - Casino Pier receives approval move expand northward

 

 

2016

July 27th, 2016 - owner abandons plan to rebuild Funtown, after height variances are not granted

September 17th, 2016 - Gertslauer track spotted near Casino Pier

October 9th, 2016 - Casino Pier begins northward expansion

 

2018

September 8h, 2018 - Casino Pier is bringing back their indoor scrambler, Centrifuge

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

http://www.injersey.com/observer/story/ ... 58,00.html

 

Worker struck by roller coaster

 

 

 

Published in the Ocean County Observer 03/28/05

Seaside Heights man, 40, airlifted to hospital

By CHRIS LUNDY

Staff Writer

SEASIDE PARK -- A Fun Town Amusement Pier employee was injured yesterday after being hit by a roller coaster giving children a ride, police said.

 

The 40-year-old Seaside Heights man, whose name was not released by police, was injured at 1:59 p.m. near the Family Fun Coaster, police said.

 

The man received lacerations to his head and leg, but was conscious, police said. He was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

 

Witness accounts vary from the police report.

 

The police said the employee was hit by the roller coaster.

 

The employee was a maintenance man picking up garbage, Fun Town Pier owner Bill Major said. The man placed the garbage can on the tracks of the ride, Major said. When the roller coaster's front car hit the can, the can was knocked forward into the man's head, he said.

 

Fun Town Pier has fences to keep people away from rides, Major said. The worker hopped a fence to do the cleaning, he said.

 

Major said he did not know why the employee acted as he did.

 

The car was on a descent and could not be stopped, Major said.

 

At first, Erin Kearney of Newark said she thought the front of the roller coaster car flipped up. She then realized it was a garbage can.

 

Kearney said she was terrified at the incident. Her 14-year-old brother, Travis Nelson, was in the front car.

"My heart was pounding," Kearney said.

 

Travis Nelson's mother, Ann Nelson of Toms River, drove to the scene when she found out what happened.

 

An employee was manning the ride.

 

"I wouldn't consider it his fault," Nelson said. "Everything was fine when the ride started."

 

The ride had approximately eight to 10 people on it, Nelson said.

 

None of the riders were reported injured.

 

Police said they contacted the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but the office was closed.

Edited by larrygator
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Reminds me of the man who went to retrieve his hat after loosing it on Top Gun. He hopped the fence that specifically said "NO TRESPASSING" and got kicked in the head by an oncoming train. The one who "kicked" suffered broken legs while the one who was hit by the rider's legs was killed. Why do people have to be so ignorant?!?

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Reminds me of the man who went to retrieve his hat after loosing it on Top Gun. He hopped the fence that specifically said "NO TRESPASSING" and got kicked in the head by an oncoming train. The one who "kicked" suffered broken legs while the one who was hit by the rider's legs was killed. Why do people have to be so ignorant?!?

 

If I remember correctly the man didn't speak english.

 

Still not a bright thing to do however. But I doubt he was able to read any signs.

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  • 1 year later...

Looks like another pier will be going for condos...

 

http://www.ocobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS/607060352

 

Lights out for Funtown Pier?

Posted by the Ocean County Observer on 07/6/06

BY EDDIE HOLLOWELL

STAFF WRITER

SEASIDE PARK — Games of chance. Bumper cars and roller coasters. Funnel cakes and salt water taffy.

 

None are in the future of Jersey Shore boardwalks, according to the consultant of a developer who wants to construct "over the ocean" condominiums in place of the amusements on the Funtown Pier.

 

"The boardwalk will eventually change," the project consultant, Carmen Ricci, told the borough council during a special meeting last night. "Amusements are not profitable anymore."

 

William Majors Jr., owner of the Funtown Pier, which sits in both Seaside Heights and Seaside Park, wants to construct 105 three-story condominiums on the section of the pier that lies in Seaside Park.

 

They would sell for $1 million to $2 million, depending on their size, and would be marketed largely as secondary homes for affluent North Jersey and New York residents, Ricci said.

 

A number of variances would be required for the project envisioned, but even if the developer could not get the necessary approvals, Ricci said it is likely that within a few years the amusements will be taken down from the Funtown Pier anyway.

 

"It's cheaper to take the rides off," Ricci said, noting increasing insurance costs and a shorter summer season. "You don't lose as much."

 

"Is this project real?'

 

The special meeting called by the borough council last night served only as an informational meeting. Mayor Robert W. Matthies said that no application has been filed with the Planning Office, but Ricci said the developer expects to file an application within the next 30 days.

 

No comment was taken from the approximately 40 members of the public who were present, but council members seemed just as surprised at the proposal.

 

"Is this project real? Is the project doable?" Matthies asked.

 

Councilwoman Norma V. Spice said she was unsure if residential properties over the water could get flood insurance.

 

"I'm not familiar with any condo projects in the ocean essentially," Spice said.

 

Ricci assured the council that the developer's engineers believe the project is possible.

 

"There's always problems in every project, but they're not anything that can't be overcome," Ricci said.

 

Under the proposal, a new pier would be constructed within the footprint of the current Funtown Pier. The condominiums would be built on top, with 210 parking spaces provided in a garage below the boardwalk. The underground concrete parking garage would extend 200 feet out toward the ocean, where steel bulkheading would keep the water out. The entrance and exit would also come from under the boardwalk, according to Ricci.

 

The total project cost is estimated at $50 million, Ricci said.

 

Several major variances would be required, Matthies said. Among the hurdles, Funtown Pier is zoned for business and not homes in Seaside Park.

 

Ricci said the Funtown Pier would remain open for the next two years, while the developer seeks the necessary approvals. If approved, construction of the condominiums would then take approximately one year to complete, Ricci said.

 

Ricci said the developer is seeking a partner for the project. Officials have said Toll Bros. has shown interest, but Ricci noted no contracts have been signed as of yet.

 

Future of boardwalks

 

The proposal only concerns the part of the pier within Seaside Park. The developer approached the Seaside Heights owners — Majors rents the Seaside Heights portion of the pier from Belle Freeman Partnership — but they were not interested in selling for at least the next five years, Ricci said.

 

However, Ricci told the council he felt such projects were inevitable at boardwalks in other towns as well.

 

"So, at some point you don't envision the boardwalk to be what it is today?" Matthies asked.

 

"No. Not at all," Ricci responded. "You can't stop it. It's coming because that's what people want."

 

Ricci said he expects some to oppose the project.

 

"There are many people that don't want change. That's understandable," Ricci said. "But you have to look at the person in the business. How will he survive?"

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Geez, first wizard's cavern and now the whole thing! Way to sell out on a boardwalk tradition, god forbid you try and improve the place to turn a profit.

 

If you're going to build a new pier anyways, why not leave Funtown be?

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Casino Pier had Wizard's Cavern and I live about 5 minutes from the two piers and Funtown Pier compared to Casino just can not compete.

 

I am mad about this and plan on going there a few times this year to get a two credits I don't have there. I hope the S&S tower is saved...

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Aww... bummer man.

 

First, half the beaches in Jersey shut down, for now, because of the state workers budget negotiations now another decent pier is being turned into summer rentals. I guess I'll go to Atlantic City instead this weekend... oops, can't do that either.

 

Wow, this states vacation destinations are really starting to suck. Please, no out of staters reply with the typical "radioactive trash swamps everywhere" remarks

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I really hope this isn't going to become a trend. Sea shore parks have a different feel than a regular park and it's I always look forward to going to the Jersey shore parks every summer. I'd hate not to be able to go to Morey's or the piers in Ocean City in a few years because they want to build houses/condos there.

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I ebtter go though that walkthrough this year like I always mean to, might not be there next year.

 

Sorry to be OT, but speaking of jersey beaches...

 

Are the beaches at Wildwood, Ocean City, Seaside Heights, and Atalntic City still open? I'm going down there very soon.

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More condo development in NJ is not "what the people want" it's what the builders want because they can build shoddy overpriced homes and walk away with a boatload of money. It's irresponsible to build homes out on a pier; didn't this guy here of Katrina? We get some pretty powerful noreasters in NJ. The local government will most likely try to stop this but unfortnately large developers like Toll Brothers have way too much money and political lobby be stopped in NJ .

 

How about a shopping mall too while we're at it?

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^Yes, that sounds terrific! Let's put the shopping mall on the ground floor of all the condos. That's exactly what Jersey and New York people want, to be able to vacation and get the same crap they can get at their own local malls.

 

Who the heck is going to want to buy a crappy condo ON the ocean IN New Jersey, the mafia so they can dump the bodies faster?

 

I hope this doesn't mean the Sawmill is also going bye-bye, that pizza is the shizzle!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey all,

 

I just got back from a 3 day trip down the Jersey Shore and SFNJ and while at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, I noticed a new coaster was under construction on the left side of the pier.

 

"Pirate's Hideaway" will open later this summer. So far half of the show building is up, and about half the trackwork, but there is still a ways to go as far as theming/etc. There was a sign posted in front of the site showing concept art and it looked pretty impressive!

 

Some of you may remember the "Wizard's Cavern" which was an unusual dark ride/coaster hybrid that started with a spiral lift hill and featured indoor and outdoor sections, with track elements including small bunny hops and a couple of decent sized drops. PH will be located on the former site of this ride.

 

According to RCDB.com, Wizard's Cavern openined in 1988 as "love Bugs" and was relocated many times before that before falling victim to the wrecking ball in 2003. I actually mangaed to get POV video of this strange coaster the year before it was wrecked, and once I get it set up, I'll post it here.

 

Why is this important? This new ride is VERY similar in layout to the aforementioned WC, and that old ride was special to me for some reason.

 

I took only a couple of photos as I was limited on memory in the camera, and I'll post them here later, just wanted to get the news out. I spoke with a Casino Pier employee who took me to the area where the pirate ship themed coaster cars are kept. (Got a photo of those too) He told me the ride should be ready in a couple of months and all parts were on site.

 

Great news if you liked that old bizzare coaster... So good to see a remake. Photos will be posted soon.

wizards-cavern2.jpg.f1123b2cf6c85183f533362f21892cab.jpg

"Pirate's Hideaway" is a remake of the old "Wizard's Cavern" which was lost in 2003. Photo credit Erik Sakowski - RCDB.com

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