Other NJ boardwalks

[anticondo]

I know WW's the best on the coast but what are the other boardwalks like? OC, NJ never really did anything for me and Atlantic City seems to have given up on anything but gambling attractions. I've never been to the north NJ shore. Are there any good dark rides in Seaside or Pt.Pleasent?

Is Seaside like WW or is it more like Ocean city? I saw they two piers that go over the Ocean.

[Crippled_Visions]

Seaside Heights is like a bizarro version of Wildwood. It is not anything like Ocean City. Seaside does have two decent dark rides.

[DJAndy]

I agree with Crippled Visions; a bizzaro. Seaside is a very small version of WW. I was there several years ago at Seaside when I found Asbury Park going through a re-development stage(no rides & closed up buildings). AP is slowly coming back though. AP back in the day had rides in two buildings; the Casino & the Palace which was good for a rainy day. Both buildings had at least 1 Dark Ride and a Carousel in each (Palace had a Ring Machine). Also, they had 4 miniature golf courses, a bubble theme park (kiddie rides), and a section of Thrill Rides at the time. WW however, had more than AP if you like Rides and a longer Boardwalk.

Here is a link to Seaside Heights:
www.seaside-heightsnj.org/

Here's a link to show some of the Old AP:
www.side-o-lamb.com/

Some of the attractions from AP's Palace are in the old Woolworth's Store on Pacific Ave. (The Goodtime Emporium). The person who owns this also owns Flipper's Fascination.

Here is Flipper's Link:
www.flippers-fascination.com/

Ocean Grove mainly has a Boardwalk only; no rides or attractions due to being a Methodist Oriented Town. In the day, OG didn't allow any vehicles on the streets on Sundays. You had to leave your vehicle in a parking lot in AP and walk into OG on a Sunday. I know of this because I lived it when my Grandparents visited my Great Aunt who lived on Inskip Ave. I also heard that Keansburg has a Boardwalk with Rides & Attractions however, I was never there.

[DjDoornob]

North Jersey boardwalks-

Seaside- aka sleazeside. It definitly has the most to offer next to Wildwood. There are 2 ride piers and a couple of darkrides/haunted houses. The boardwalk is packed with games, arcades, and stores. Definitly run down. The night life is very good, except it's packed with meatheads and guidos. There are bars on the boardwalk which is cool. Nothing like OC- definitly the biggest party town on the Jersey Shore (except A.C., which doesn't really count).

Point Pleasant- closer to the O.C. scene in the sence that it is a smaller boardwalk, except it is certainly not just for familys (i.e. its not a dry town). There is a street-side ride area attached to the boardwalk (mostly kiddie rides), no darkrides, but has one of the best Funhouses around (2 levels, brand new, many different rooms and themes, takes a good 10-15 minutes to get through it). Arcades, food, and games. Also home to Jenks and the Tiki Bar (2 of the better shore bars/clubs).

Keansburg- Keansburg Amusement park on the boardwalk has one of the oldest darkrides in america- The Spookhouse. The rest of the park is mostly kiddie rides from what i can tell. I've never been there before so I don't know if there is anything else on the boardwalk, nor do I know if the Spookhouse is worth the trip (I would guess it probably is- if you are an enthusiest)

Asbury Park- as DJAndy said, used to have all sorts of great rides, darkrides, funhouses, etc. But no more. They knocked down the Palace Amusements buliding last year and the Casio is completely barron. While it is starting to have a renassance (the "rough" elements are being moved out... and gays are moving in, either way you still probably don't want to go there at night), the only thing that Asbury has to offer right now is the Convention center (for concerts) and a few bars (including the famous Stone Pony).

There are other noteworthy and fun shore towns (Belmar and Manasquan for example) but none with significant boardwalks.

[wildwanderer]

I went to Seaside once. That was enough!!

[DJAndy]

The "Rift-Raft" (a term I thought of for shady characters) starts to invade the Boards on certain nights (Aft. 11 or so) more than others sometimes (that is what happened in Asbury Park; lots of muggings, especially Ocean Grove). Maybe that is why the Businesses & Piers start to close up early on the Boards because the Family Folks feel uncomfortable and go back to their Rooms or Leave for the evening. I remember the Piers staying open until 1am on some nights in the late 80's & early 90's; not no more.

Good advice I guess is to watch your back and carry light (have a working cell phone, keep walking to a well lighted area where there is lots of people if suspected of being followed, personal ID if you need the cops, little cash in your pocket, & only have 1 credit / debit card if that is how you pay for things otherwise none at all).

JUST WATCH YOURSELF AT NIGHT OUT THERE EVERYONE!

[Doowopper]

ehh seaside isn't that bad. They had this one super-mini rollercaoster. It was/is called the wizard. (I say was/is because I haven't been there in about 5 years and don't know if it's still there. It was pretty interesting. Youd get into your car (two people max) you'd imesdiately start a climb up in a spiral. The whole track was really ruff and you got shook around ALOT. Onve you were at the top of the spiral youd be pretty high and could see pretty far. From there you went into a real steep drop and into the ride. It was a maze of really sharp turns with zero back and a descent. Then youd go down a strait piece of track (remeber it is completely dark inside) then all of a sudden a super bright yellow light would flash and let out a loud screech. Youd immedietly make a sharp right, and finish off the ride. Was/is an OK ride.

[Crippled_Visions]

doowopper2 said:

ehh seaside isn't that bad. They had this one super-mini rollercaoster. It was/is called the wizard. (I say was/is because I haven't been there in about 5 years and don't know if it's still there. It was pretty interesting. Youd get into your car (two people max) you'd imesdiately start a climb up in a spiral. The whole track was really ruff and you got shook around ALOT. Onve you were at the top of the spiral youd be pretty high and could see pretty far. From there you went into a real steep drop and into the ride. It was a maze of really sharp turns with zero back and a descent. Then youd go down a strait piece of track (remeber it is completely dark inside) then all of a sudden a super bright yellow light would flash and let out a loud screech. Youd immedietly make a sharp right, and finish off the ride. Was/is an OK ride.

The ride you describe was one of the few remaining gravity dark rides. They tore it down a few years ago. It was pretty weak inside...no working stunts.

[DjDoornob]

Actully CP, you might be thinking of something else. The Wizard's Cavern kinda looked like a dark ride from outside (it had a cool facade), but it was basically just a Wild Mouse in the dark... no stunts at all. It went for that Space Mountain or Skull Mountain effect, but it was really old and light crept in all over th place. It was pretty cheesy but I always liked it... thought it had an old school, decrepit charm to it.

Yeah they knocked it down a few years back.

[ellen4441]

hi ,
I agree with most of the comments about "sleaside"..

I still enjoy it for it's tackiness factor, but I , too, would not want to be on the boardwalk after 11 pm or so....

cause, like you said, the families are all gone for the most part....

my sister told me that the waterpark there is now owned by Jenkinson's (of Point Pleasant fame), and they have done many updates..

even enough improvements to get my careful sister to want to take the little ones there!

I told her we could eat dinner at "on top of Spaghetti", right on the Boulevard (not on the boards).......

it looked like a nice, comfortable place for my chicken francaise!

ellen

[Crippled_Visions]

djdoornob said:

Actully CP, you might be thinking of something else. The Wizard's Cavern kinda looked like a dark ride from outside (it had a cool facade), but it was basically just a Wild Mouse in the dark... no stunts at all. It went for that Space Mountain or Skull Mountain effect, but it was really old and light crept in all over th place. It was pretty cheesy but I always liked it... thought it had an old school, decrepit charm to it.

Yeah they knocked it down a few years back.

Yeah, it was basically a small indoor rollercoaster, but it could have also been considered a dark ride because it was an enclosed ride. I did notice some non-operating stunts set up in it when we rode it. It was originally built in 1958 and even operated at Palisades Park for a number of years.

[starjet]

Just wanted to chime in here. I have loved boardwalks all my life and think each of them has there "charm". I actually work in Seaside, as I have for the past 7 years. I actually run the antique merry go round at Casino Pier if anyone is farmiliar with that.

Maybe I am to close to the place to form an opinion, but it isnt all that bad. Yes there is sometimes an "element" there, but there are also tons of families and nice people that come out to enjoy the day. Honestly, I think the boardwalk (and the town as a whole) looks better then it has in years, as the town and the business owners have cleaned, spruced, and repainted pretty much everything, and have takin a second look and made a commitment to improve the town for what its worth. As for the safety factor, there are tons of cops (many on bike potrol) and from someone who spends lots of time up there, everything is usually under control. If you havnt been in a while, maybe you should take a second look.

No, I dont work for the PR dept (though I probably should) but just wanted to stick up for a town whose reputation I feel is sometimes a bit harsh and unjustified.

BTW- this year Casino Pier has added an Enterprise that previously was on the pier a number of years ago, as well as a Rock O Plane (the last on the shore) which was moved up from Jenks in Point Beach. Funtown Pier has added a Miller Wild Mouse, which was previously at Playland in Ocean City.

Eric-who loves Wildwood also and is anxious to get down and see the new lighting system on the Ferris Wheel.

[Crippled_Visions]

At least Seaside has two decent dark rides. At least RWK would be happy there.

[RobertK]

I don't know which one I would like better, the new Dante's or the new haunted house ride on Casino in Seaside. I was on both before. Also the walk-through Haunted Manor on Funtown Pier looks neat. Unlike some other crappy dark rides, this attraction looks authentic like the old attractions. While it may be no LB Haunted Mansion, it's better than nothing. I just hope it survives long enough until I get a chance to get down there to check it out. I believe Hunt's Pier once had a similar attraction for a little while. As for Wildwood, I want the Golden Nugget back and a proper walk-through haunted house that actually looks like a haunted house on the outside.

[bikerchik]

So Robert, is your mom taking you to WW this summer?