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Post by thelastresort on Jun 8, 2006 6:31:26 GMT -5
not getting you down.. Just being realistic. If you want Ill say that yes it can be done:) if it makes ya feel better. hey, don't sweat it, just throw a nice thought my way when you are on the deck of the "Skua II" someday
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Post by FlyinGN on Jun 8, 2006 7:34:20 GMT -5
will do!!
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Post by Al Alven on Jun 9, 2006 9:58:11 GMT -5
I'm jumping into this conversation way late, so I don't know exactly what I can add here.
I guess I fall somewhere between "dreamer" and "realist" when it comes to things like this. It's fun to imagine what a "resurrected" Hunt's Pier might be like, fun to think back to the past and picture the possibilities of the future (it's true, anything is possible).
At the same time, bringing back Hunt's Pier as it was in any way, shape or form seems like an almost impossible vision. In a day and age when plenty are practically begging the Moreys to bring the Golden Nugget back to operation with (thus far) no result, a total revitalization can only be classified as a pipe dream.
That said, I do think that the Moreys could do a better job by looking into ways to somehow tap into that nostaligic vein. I don't believe that bringing back the Skua or the Flyer is necessarily the answer, but perhaps some new rides with "modern twists" on the old classics is the way to go.
Or, some other themes that play off of the favorites from years ago. Really, I don't know what the answer is... but, like others, I still feel that Hunt's Pier itself is too valuable a commodity to simply sit there as primarily a "storage" pier, and could be put back into use in some practical way.
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Post by Doo Wop Mike D on Jun 9, 2006 10:45:57 GMT -5
I've thought about this sort of an idea myself... I think the concept of a pier based specifically on nostalgia/classic-style rides is a good idea, but not to the extent that you're going to re-create rides like the Flyer and the old log flume that already have modern replacements (the Great White and Zoom Phloom) on other piers. At that point, you're putting nostalgia and fantasy way over practicality. If the Flyer happened to still be standing today and just needed some rehab, then it might be a different story. But you're not going to re-create something from scratch to fill a niche that's already been filled (in the case of a wooden roller coaster). If the economics of Wildwood supported the idea of adding additional roller coasters just for novelty's sake the way Six Flags parks do, then it might be neat to make one of those new roller coasters a replica of the Flyer, but Wildwood isn't on that level and it wouldn't make any business sense at this point. The Moreys have already pushed the limits of what can be accomplished with Jersey Shore boardwalk amusements and should be commended enough for that.
However, especially as we move forward, and if all these high-rise condotels are built and Wildwood starts attracting an even higher volume of tourists and really re-invents itself as a major destination, then maybe re-doing Hunt's Pier as a pier that really captures the essence of a 1950s-era amusement park/carnival with creative, small-scale rides and attractions, perhaps with the Golden Nugget as the centerpiece if it hasn't already been moved, would be a viable idea to go along with the whole identity of Wildwood as the mecca of the 1950s-era American boardwalk town experience. It would be sort of half museum, half active theme park. But even then, I'm not sure how well the concept really holds up. I think the Moreys are already doing the job of combining the classic boardwalk feel with updated rides (a mix of older and newer) on their other piers, which is really about as good as you can ask for. Preserving original structures if they're still around to preserve is one thing, and I know Hunt's Pier is the physical, geographical landmark, but once the attractions are gone, they're gone. The best you can do from there is try to capture the spirit of the past as you build for the future. You can never actually go back and re-create the past, and if you could, I'm not sure that you should.
At best, if the Wildwoods really grow and there becomes a greater demand for more cutting-edge rides and attractions on the other piers, then maybe some re-arranging could be done and Hunt's Pier could be re-invented as a place that focuses exclusively on those old-fashioned campy theme rides and walk-throughs that evoke some of the originals if not actual replicas. Or maybe some modern-day versions of those old-fashioned haunted-style attractions (for our friend Robert) that you don't really see too much of anymore, but are definitely a part of Wildwood history and amusement park history in general. I wasn't around to experience the original Hunt's Pier, but from my understanding of the kinds of attractions it had, I'd say maybe the best way to "re-invent" the original idea of Hunt's Pier in the 21st century would be a focus on more interactive, thematic experiences rather than a focus on physical thrills as you see with the rides on the other piers.
All that being said, I wouldn't expect anything major to happen anytime in the immediate future. With all the changes going on in the Wildwoods, it probably wouldn't be a good idea for the Moreys to make any major investments in major projects on the piers until this whole re-development scenario has played itself out and we see what kind of town we're left with. It's really hard to predict the future and to be able to tell if Wildwood ten years from now will even be a place where amusements are still a primary attraction, or if they've become more of a sideshow as other types of attractions start to re-define the island's identity. Or perhaps the market for amusements will be bigger and better than ever. You just never know. I think it's a really tricky time for any business owner or investor to get a handle on exactly what's going to work in the "new" Wildwoods, but that could be a segway into a whole different conversation, so I'll just stop right there. I'm sure you guys all get the point. And like Thom always says... all just my opinion.
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Post by wildwanderer on Jun 9, 2006 18:27:15 GMT -5
Well put Mike. An era themed pier is a great idea. Like a Neo-Doo Wop look and feel. Sort of like the old Tomorrowland of Disney World before the renovation. The nostalgia was there.
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Jun 9, 2006 20:13:52 GMT -5
Well put Mike. An era themed pier is a great idea. Like a Neo-Doo Wop look and feel. Sort of like the old Tomorrowland of Disney World before the renovation. The nostalgia was there. I like the idea of a retro-amusement pier with old-style rides. But I will stick with my estimate that the total cost of reinventing Hunts Pier will be somewhere between 100 and 200 million - guaranteed. Maybe they could call it Doo Wop Land, or Teenyboppers, or Bobbysoxers, or... I got it - Shoobies!!!!
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Post by Al Alven on Jun 9, 2006 23:22:42 GMT -5
Thom, I think you're right on target with your estimate of what the total cost of "reinventing" Hunt's Pier would be.
I also believe that Mike D. is dead on in stating that the Moreys have pretty much "pushed the limits" of what can be accomplished, amusement-wise, in the Wildwoods up to this point.
With the uncertainly as to exactly where the island is heading within the next few years (let alone the next decade), I highly doubt the Moreys will be taking any drastic steps.
The plans for the re-done waterpark and new restaurant at Surfside next year are pretty big steps, actually, and represent a great deal of committment. I think it'll be (at least) another 10 years or so before we see anything earth-shattering happen.
It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Hunt's Pier in the exact same situation it's in now in 2016. It's not what I (or anyone else) wants to see, but I can't really blame the Moreys, given the circumstances involved.
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Post by MMM on Jun 10, 2006 0:12:15 GMT -5
I got to speak with Jack Morey at the Doo Wop Awards Dinner last month for a little while. He encouraged me to keep people sending e-mails regarding the Nugget - they like to see that the interest is still there...
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Post by CondorAlex on Jun 10, 2006 12:33:13 GMT -5
I'm sure they know the interest is still there. Come on Jack!
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Post by thelastresort on Jun 11, 2006 8:15:14 GMT -5
I'm sure they know the interest is still there. Come on Jack! Honestly, I think even if they just put back some equivalent to the Skua, Keystone Kops, Jungleland, Wacky Shack and the Train, and fix the Nugget, and then put up anything else that they want, that would be a fundamental improvement. The Flyer and Log Flume, although fun and part of our past, are not unique so if they had to be left out to save cost, that would make sense. Regarding the "two coaster" theory, ahh, how soon we forget, anyone over 30 would remember that the boardwalk did have 2 coasters, the Flyer and the big white one near Dracula's Castle. But I see, if the expense of redoing the Flyer would scuttle the entire project, then don't, but they should at least do something, and I can't see the ones I mentioned costing more than a few million.
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Post by Robert on Jun 11, 2006 20:30:59 GMT -5
If the Flyer trains are still around, and restorable, then it might have been possible to build a new compact coaster on the pier with the help of Custom Coasters or whatever and reuse the trains, but the big problem is that new buildings were built on the Flyer's old spot such as the large building that Dino Beach built for the Escape from Dinosaur dark ride, and now the new shop at the front left of the pier, and the Skyscraper ride. My vision for the pier would have been to restore the Nugget, build a new horror-themed dark ride that rivals Dante's, and add some traditional rides such as a carousel, mini train, etc. Sort of a pier for the entire family, with slow rides like a train and carousel, scary rides like the Nugget and new dark ride, and thrill rides whatever they can put there.
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helen
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by helen on Jun 14, 2006 21:20:41 GMT -5
You could resurrect Hunts Pier with just the Nugget! You could add new up to date rides and call it Hunts and people would fly there. There are so many people that are looking for Wildwood Past (Hunts Pier Time) IF the Nugget open people would pay to ride one more time.
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Post by Robert on Jun 27, 2006 0:39:26 GMT -5
About the pier, the new (1986-1990) ownership must have had their heads in the sand when they decided to raze some of the classic rides. Vince Kostek was sick about it in the Flyer demolition article. Those are the only known words we have from Vince and Bud Hunt in that article. The problem was is that neither Vince or Hunt could have done anything to prevent the demolition because they were no longer involved with the pier at the time. To put it another way, if you sell your house, three years later you can't tell the new owner what to do with HIS property if he decides to tear down half the house. It's his property, no longer yours, so he reserves the right to do whatever he wants with it. You, the former owner no longer have a say. That's exactly what happened with Hunt's Pier. I'm sure Vince or the Hunt family would have never even thought about touching (tearing down) any of the rides, after all, they all survived intact from 57-60's into 1985. But, we have to accept that business decisions were made and that the pier was changed so that more money could be made by attracting the younger crowd with rides such as "Kamikaze". It's the same thing with the Morey's. We can't tell the Morey's what to do with it. They will do what they want to do with it because they own it. They will reopen the Nugget on their timetable, not ours.
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Post by DubbleRNR on Aug 30, 2006 14:16:33 GMT -5
The idea of resurrecting Hunt's Pier is one that I dreamed of many times. Is it possible? ABSOLUTELY! I think the issue isn't whether or not it's possible; rather, the issue is whether or not someone is WILLING to do it?! Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Walt Disney and the countless other "dreamers" of the world all started from the notion that it IS possible.
I don't know much about architecture but I wonder if the Philadelphia Tobbogan Co. still has the blueprints for some of the rides they designed for the pier.
As far as competition is concerned, I view Hun'ts Pier not a as competitor to the modern thrill rides but as an addition. It would augmnet and add dimension to the whole boardwalk experience. Remember, not everyone is a thrill seeker. Some would rather ride the Flyer than the Sea Serpent and others might want to ride both.
BTW, this comes from a "the glass is half empty" kinda guy...
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Post by Robert on Aug 30, 2006 22:33:04 GMT -5
fyi, there is a Hunt's Pier brochure on ebay. I just saw another one a week ago. This is the one from around 1982 because it shows the Ranger in it. There's also a 4 view postcard with a closeup of the red Flyer train, and the boardwalk looking toward the Castle Dracula billboard. I have some Hunt's Pier stuff, some postcards, that brochure, and a rare ad from a magazine showing lots of small pictures of the rides in b&w. it says "Take your "pic" of super family fun on HUNT'S PIER Wildwood, New Jersey". I have a rare postcard showing the front of the Whacky Shack straight on, but the bottom is cut off. It's from the 60's because Morey's Pier isn't there and from 1970 onward the Shack was next to the Flyer. In the 60's the Shack and Kops were next to each other across from the Nugget. In 1970 the Log Flume arrived and the Shack and Kops had to be moved. Another postcard I have is a 3 view of Hunt's from the 80's with a green background. Front of pier day and night, and Jungleland and Log Flume. I have a nice one from 1981 showing the pier from the front. There's a pic of the Nugget on ebay now from 1986. It looks b&w. The seller momscountrycrafts sold a lot of dark ride stuff lately. Check completed listings. It's someone from one of the dark ride sites. Laff in the dark, Tunnel of laffs named Bret.
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