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Post by nance on Aug 31, 2006 3:18:54 GMT -5
Once again; I wil say this very slowly; all you need is MONEY!!!!!!!! I highly doubt any of the older rides will be brought back. UNLESS, someone could possibly purchase them from storage somewhere or something but I highly doubt they will actually rebuild rides from the 50's. Anyone who owns these piers need things that will "draw" people. When the sun goes down and the lights come on, everyone is drawn to the rides, funhouses, games; where the excitement is. If you don't have that, you're out of business. Haven't been there for awhile but when I went to Hunts and the other piers years ago, you couldn't even MOVE because of the crowds! But that was the best time. To me it was just exhilerating!
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Post by thelastresort on Aug 31, 2006 7:38:51 GMT -5
Honestly Robert, I try not to look at the pics of the old Hunt's Pier too much, because as much as I like to reminisce, it also p-sses me off to think what has become of it.
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Post by nance on Sept 1, 2006 3:19:52 GMT -5
You can look back and remember, but you can't live in the past. You have to deal, the best you can, in the here and now.
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Post by Robert on Sept 2, 2006 2:52:25 GMT -5
Well, you could sort of live in the past if you had a DeLorean that went 88 mph...or blueprints to rebuild your favorite rides, or by visiting something that existed for years. It's cool to revisit something from your past, like a 40 year old dark ride that you rode as a child. But, when the object no longer exists, it's kind of depressing because you can no longer relive the experience. Or introduce your children to it. How many kids under 8 today rode the Golden Nugget? None, because it was closed all the time since their births. How many 10 or under saw the Whacky Shack? None, because it was torn down 10 years ago.
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Post by nance on Sept 3, 2006 3:34:12 GMT -5
Robert, I said this before and I mean this sincerely; we're not just talking about darkrides here; I've seen SOOO much destroyed and taken away that I remembered fondly from my childhood and I'll probably see alot more. I get upset, too; that's why I like history so much and like to look at old books of Dorney Park, Wildwood, a special place somewhere. Of course our kids won't remember what this or that was like, but they'll remember what they're experiencing now and that's the way it goes----on and on. A friend of mine just sent me photos of my old neighborhood where I grew up. When I looked at those pictures, the houses and the street; I almost cried. It looked like a poor slum area and everything was falling apart. I looked where I played and I lived and I got literally sick to think someone could do that to something that was once my home and it still saddens me, but you just can't keep looking back. Think what you can do in the here and now and move forward with it.
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Sept 3, 2006 13:14:36 GMT -5
you just can't keep looking back. Think what you can do in the here and now and move forward with it. Hi Nance.... Your point has obvious merit, but since you keep reiterating it and getting nowhere, I'd like to respectfully suggest that it's an uphill battle coming on this forum and telling people to stop looking back. Kinda like preaching the evils of sugar in a Godiva chocolate shop. Many of us are grappling with a great sense of loss about the Wildwoods and have few if any "real world" contacts who can appreciate that loss and what it feels like. I come to this forum partly to vent those feelings to people who "get it," and I have the impression that Robert and many others do too. We're all at various stages of a grieving process for the Wildwoods that we grew up with, whether that was in the '50s or the '80s. Venting, by itself, doesn't lead to solutions or accomplishments but it has its place as a necessary part of any grieving process.
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Post by wildwanderer on Sept 3, 2006 16:30:12 GMT -5
you just can't keep looking back. Think what you can do in the here and now and move forward with it. Hi Nance.... Your point has obvious merit, but since you keep reiterating it and getting nowhere, I'd like to respectfully suggest that it's an uphill battle coming on this forum and telling people to stop looking back. Kinda like preaching the evils of sugar in a Godiva chocolate shop. Many of us are grappling with a great sense of loss about the Wildwoods and have few if any "real world" contacts who can appreciate that loss and what it feels like. I come to this forum partly to vent those feelings to people who "get it," and I have the impression that Robert and many others do too. We're all at various stages of a grieving process for the Wildwoods that we grew up with, whether that was in the '50s or the '80s. Venting, by itself, doesn't lead to solutions or accomplishments but it has its place as a necessary part of any grieving process. You're making it sound like we're mourning a death of loved one, a person. Hunts Pier was a big part of my childhood, but I've grown up and with growing up comes changes. That is the way I accept the changes of WW. WW is growing, and hopefully in good ways. Yes, condo's might not be everyones mode of a good change but it's a change. I have said this before WW is still WW. Take a little of the old and mix it with new it still gives that special feeling but with a few items missing. I don't grieve the WW's I celebrate it. It's still here unlike when we grieve for a person. We have memories that keep us close to those who leave. Let's look at Hunts Pier the same way, and all the lost venues thru the years. Celebrate the memories, commemorate them, make them known, talk about the old especially those who lost out knowing those days. Why would someone tell us not to look back? Why not, but let's do it for the fun and grand memories that we have and had.
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Post by hulk007 on Sept 3, 2006 23:06:41 GMT -5
Everyone expierences changes in life. Some good and some not so good. Nothing stays the same forever and I don't think anyone would want it to.
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Post by Robert on Sept 4, 2006 0:05:58 GMT -5
Well, then, what is the point of a Hunt's Pier tribute site? Such as Funchase, Dark in the Park or MrBoardwalk? It's to preserve history and rare documents that would otherwise be unseen by the public. I mean the last time most people saw the inside of the Golden Nugget in person would have been it's last year of public operation. And the other rides now gone, a long time ago. It's like Elvis, he's dead but the music lives on. So with Hunt's the real thing is gone but the memory of it has been preserved in photographs, videos, brochures, sound files and anything else you can think of. The whole purpose of museums and websites like those mentioned are to document and preserve history. So while you can't live in the past you can remember the past and all the great times you had and hope for a positive outcome with what's left, such as the Nugget. I have to deal with missing rides at my hometown park, and looking at the former spot of a boat dark ride behind a fence, it's like visiting the gravesite of someone who passed on, like if your grandpa or uncle died in 1982 or 1992 or whatever. You know in your mind that the ride is lost forever, but you pay your respects at the former site of the ride knowing the great times you had while the ride existed and was operational. It's especially more significant when you experienced the defunct ride with one of your family members that has since passed on, such as my father.
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Post by nance on Sept 4, 2006 2:37:40 GMT -5
I totally agree, Robert, with almost everything you said. And it's wonderful that everyone can get together and discuss what is going on now and what it was like then. You know what bothers me most of all? When I look at the way things were and what used to be there and all the fun I had; it makes me REALLY think how old I'm getting! And I think, where did all those years go? THAT'S when I get sad because I realize how short life is and all those wonderful times are just memories now. Sure it upsets me that things are changing and what was is no longer there; but that was "our" time and we'll always have those memories to share with anyone else who remembers. I even get upset when I think of how the kids are today and how in my time, everything seemed to be so much simpler and carefree. We didn't need a whole lot when we were kids to have a nice time, but today these kids seem so wild and greedy. I really, honestly am so thankful I grew-up in the time I did. I'm glad I experienced all these wonderful piers and rides. And the "older" motels. Will the kids today feel like us 20-30 years from now?
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Post by nance on Sept 4, 2006 2:40:02 GMT -5
Robert, why don't you play the lotto. Maybe you'll be the one to resurrect Hunt's Pier.
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Post by michael on Sept 4, 2006 2:45:21 GMT -5
I haven't gone to Wildwood in three years now -- it's too depressing. But if a restored/rebuilt Hunt's Pier were to reopen, I'd be bringing my family there for vacation every summer.
I have no interest in any of the rides that Moreys operates. They seem like they're trying to be a mini Six Flags-by-the-sea.
That sort of stuff may bring in the teenagers ... but I'll bet they don't spend half the money that families do. Did. There aren't any family rides in Wildwood now. The few (generic) kiddie rides are strictly for the pre-school set.
I think that a restored Hunt's Pier: complete with a restored Golden Nugget, and a Jungleland, Skua, Keystone Kops, Flyer, Ghost Town Train and Log Flume (all built from the original blueprints -- if such exist) would make more money than all of Morey's Piers combined.
I showed some pictures of Hunt's Pier to my wife. She's only been to Wildwood with me in 1998, 1999 and 2003 -- and dislikes it. But when she saw the pictures of Hunt's, she said "Now *that's* the kind of place I'd like to go. It's too bad there wasn't anything like that when we were there."
My children are fascinated with the pictures of the lost rides as well.
A 50s-60s Pier might not sound exciting to a teenager, but it would bring back the families ... in droves.
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Post by FlyinGN on Sept 4, 2006 15:23:55 GMT -5
Mike. Its not that bad today.. trust me... You kids will think that the rides that there now are the hunts pier of today... The wildwood that you know and love it there.. Go and see.. make the memories for you kids.. Like your parents did for you..
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Post by huntspier4ever on Sept 4, 2006 18:19:40 GMT -5
I haven't gone to Wildwood in three years now -- it's too depressing. But if a restored/rebuilt Hunt's Pier were to reopen, I'd be bringing my family there for vacation every summer. I have no interest in any of the rides that Moreys operates. They seem like they're trying to be a mini Six Flags-by-the-sea. That sort of stuff may bring in the teenagers ... but I'll bet they don't spend half the money that families do. Did. There aren't any family rides in Wildwood now. The few (generic) kiddie rides are strictly for the pre-school set. I think that a restored Hunt's Pier: complete with a restored Golden Nugget, and a Jungleland, Skua, Keystone Kops, Flyer, Ghost Town Train and Log Flume (all built from the original blueprints -- if such exist) would make more money than all of Morey's Piers combined. I showed some pictures of Hunt's Pier to my wife. She's only been to Wildwood with me in 1998, 1999 and 2003 -- and dislikes it. But when she saw the pictures of Hunt's, she said "Now *that's* the kind of place I'd like to go. It's too bad there wasn't anything like that when we were there." My children are fascinated with the pictures of the lost rides as well. A 50s-60s Pier might not sound exciting to a teenager, but it would bring back the families ... in droves. Thank God there's someone out there with similiar opinions as mine! Michael, I agree with you wholeheartedly... I've been saying that the Moreys are trying to replicate Disney World in Wildwood. Sorry, that's NEVER going to happen and it really shows me that these people aren't fighting to keep Wildwood on the map as a UNIQUE vacation destination. My grandfather and the Hunt's Pier organization always prided themselves on being a FAMILY destination, with something for everyone. I too have no interest in the Morey's rides because let's be real, the majority of them lack the creativity and one-of-a-kind craftmanship of older authentic rides. Please do not get me started about the Nugget... I have b*tched and complained so much and it feels that our "interests" fall upon deaf ears. Every year (it seems) the Moreys want to send out questionnaires; asking us how we would feel about reopening the Nugget. I guarantee you that if they announced the reopening of the Nugget, it would be a HUGE draw... and I don't believe I am in the minority of people who want this ride reopened. I seriously doubt that teenagers are spending large amounts of money and that people my age (late 20s-mid 30s) are the ones who could make up a large demographic. The Moreys opened up their "Alcohol Oasis" (or whatever it's called) so you know that they are targeting "Mom and Dad". I've been hoping another person would say this: "I think that a restored Hunt's Pier: complete with a restored Golden Nugget, and a Jungleland, Skua, Keystone Kops, Flyer, Ghost Town Train and Log Flume (all built from the original blueprints -- if such exist) would make more money than all of Morey's Piers combined." Amen, brother!
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Post by MMM on Sept 4, 2006 21:29:59 GMT -5
I overheard what looked like a mother and son (the son probably about 8-9 years old) on the boardwalk a few weeks ago. The son asked the mother something about what the Nugget was, seemingly interested in it, and the mother quickly said it is the Golden Nugget Mine Ride, in full . Not a big case study, but the interest seems there, and it remains clear in people's memories based on this.
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