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Post by FlyinGN on Aug 27, 2006 13:22:20 GMT -5
Ill bet my Son will think that TODAY is the best time for Wildwood.
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tbear
Junior Member
Posts: 68
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Post by tbear on Aug 27, 2006 14:23:25 GMT -5
Check out this article from today's Courier Post. www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060827/NEWS01/608270386/1006I just returned from staying at the American Inn in North Wildwood last week and I know how everyone feels. I would never dream of staying in a condo. I used to spend every summer at the Lurae but we all know what has become of that motel. I really think it is up to the people who frequent Wildwood to help keep the motels in business because once they close you know what is going to go in it's place. It was really strange driving down Surf because there was nothing to look at besides condos with for sale or rent signs all over them. Not many people, it was exciting just to find a motel along the way. I highly recommend the American Inn. It is clean, great view of the ocean, close to the boards and not a long walk to the ocean. The kids loved it. I already reserved for next year.
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Aug 27, 2006 14:44:41 GMT -5
Timely article for this forum, tbear, thanks for posting. We really need to clone Carl and Donna Gallucci. (The article tells of their purchase of the Surf Haven motel in 2000, how they're rebuffing all the developers who come courting on a weekly basis now, and how they have four kids who help out around the motel. Of course, as self-described blue collar people, they probably wouldn't have been able to buy that place if they'd waited two or three more years. Good thing they took the plunge when they did.) I think the Courier-Post lifted that Bruce Smith quote, I swear I've read those exact words from him somewhere else. Hopefully they reflect his current attitude. It did look as though they were still fighting the good fight at the Tangiers when I stopped by there earlier this month. Glad you had such a good stay at the American Inn. Check out this article from today's Courier Post. www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060827/NEWS01/608270386/1006I just returned from staying at the American Inn in North Wildwood last week and I know how everyone feels. I would never dream of staying in a condo. I used to spend every summer at the Lurae but we all know what has become of that motel. I really think it is up to the people who frequent Wildwood to help keep the motels in business because once they close you know what is going to go in it's place. It was really strange driving down Surf because there was nothing to look at besides condos with for sale or rent signs all over them. Not many people, it was exciting just to find a motel along the way. I highly recommend the American Inn. It is clean, great view of the ocean, close to the boards and not a long walk to the ocean. The kids loved it. I already reserved for next year.
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Post by writhinganacondo on Aug 27, 2006 16:50:11 GMT -5
We love the Surf Haven, it is one of the few authentic older motels left on Surf Ave., but don't hold your breath. There have been dozens of "we love Wildwood and would never sell" articles quoting new motel owners, among them the Memory, Crown, Swan, Kona Kai, San Souci, T-Bird etc. Most recent was by the Sea Winds at 4508 Atlantic Ave. in view of the convention center. Perhaps someone would post a pic of this success story, we're too busy keeping an eye out for the "new utopians" that are going to save the island. Also, who owned the Tahiti before it was razed?
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Post by Doowopper on Aug 27, 2006 17:04:58 GMT -5
Shoudln't owners like those at the Surf Haven be considered the Doo-Wop heroes? Or do they need to renovate/expand first to get on that list?
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Aug 27, 2006 18:14:06 GMT -5
I have to say, before this thread that I started turns into a lengthy pile-on about "weak victim mentality," etc., that my intent in posting Smalley's letter was certainly NOT to suggest we should all join him in jumping off the cliff. Of course most people on this board are going to keep going to the Wildwoods. Including me, for now, although I can't rule out an eventual tipping point when more is absent than present of what I love about the island. Most of us are hard-core--that's why we're here. But what about the people in the middle zone, the people who have a Wildwoods habit but are not quite so fervently attached to the place?
The purpose of posting that letter was as an entry in our "Wildwoods Media Watch Blog," if you will. The fact that the Leader published it is what interested me most about it. It's an invitation to the businesspeople and politicians who read that paper to stop and wonder how many Mike Smalleys are out there who won't be back for any more overnight stays--no more ka-ching. And if we want the march of condomination halted, we want them to be worrying about that; we want them to see Mike Smalley as the tip of a dangerous iceberg.
Smalley does sound a bit petulant. Perhaps he's still in the throes of the intense reaction that anyone who loves the Wildwoods must feel when they first realize how sharply change accelerated on the island as it entered the 21st century. He may even calm down eventually, reconcile himself to the situation, and return for a vacation again in a year or two. But he may not, or if he does, it may be a shorter stay. Who knows? Certainly not the powers-that-be in the Wildwoods, and they should not be so foolish as to bank on the expectation that Smalley and everyone else who feels as he does will "get over it." The risk is very real that they will simply get over the Wildwoods and go elsewhere.
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pam
New Member
Posts: 39
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Post by pam on Aug 27, 2006 18:26:24 GMT -5
Agreed!
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Post by thelastresort on Aug 27, 2006 21:30:57 GMT -5
Good post Fuzzy, I agree. But also, by the same token, I say "to hell with him." Naturally, we don't want WW to lose so much business that it fails and falls apart, but it's been going strong for 100 years, and people come and people go. Often when I tell people I'm going to WW, I get a reply like "oh yeah, I used to go there as a kid", in almost a condescending fashion. Well, if they don't like it, tough luck, I do. And for all the Smalley's of the world, there will always be someone to take his place.
In some way, perhaps some of the progress is "good" in a way, since it give more of a mix, people who like condos now have condos to stay at, and those who like motels or other arrangements, such as houses for rent, etc., have them too.
Long Live Wildwood!
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Post by nance on Aug 28, 2006 3:33:23 GMT -5
I have a question, what if some big out-fit comes in and wants to buy a block or 2 (or 3), of old motels to build condos, and 1 or 2 refuse, must he just forget it or can he do something about; like to get them out?
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Post by thelastresort on Aug 28, 2006 7:48:25 GMT -5
I have a question, what if some big out-fit comes in and wants to buy a block or 2 (or 3), of old motels to build condos, and 1 or 2 refuse, must he just forget it or can he do something about; like to get them out? hmm, ya never know. I suppose if it got really ugly, the developer would scrap the idea. But if he can get the city behind him, it might be possible to litigate in view of that 2005 Supreme Court eminent domain case Kelo v. City of New London to force the holdouts to sell. Hopefully, it will never come to that. Here is a brief synopsis of the case www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/24/scotus.property/
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Post by wildwanderer on Aug 28, 2006 15:17:59 GMT -5
Quit the WW's nah!! Never!!!
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Post by MMM on Aug 28, 2006 16:52:21 GMT -5
I "feel his pain", especially with how that end of Surf Avenue had it's "look" ruined, BUT I can't agree with a lot of it. The boardwalk, as others have said, seems to be doing quite well. I had to bob and weave a lot last Wednesday night when going around. Now, the lines for the rides overall aren't what they were when I was a boy, but I can't say I miss that, and they were still plenty busy. The Motels, sigh... I'm sorry to repeat myself, but condos didn't need to be built in most cases to offer upgraded facilities. Except for something like the size of the bathrooms, most of the amenities desired by the modern day vacationer could be offered if the owner of the Motel was willing to add these items/make upgrades. If basically everything else was done "right", the small bathroom would wouldn't be much of an issue and I'd imagine could be overlooked by most.
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Post by Al Alven on Aug 28, 2006 17:09:56 GMT -5
I'm on the same page as Martin here.
Like the person who wrote the letter in question, my dad drove up Surf Ave. for the first time this season on our vacation last week. Now, bear in mind that he is closing in on 60, and has been coming to the Wildwoods all of his life.
In fact, he vacationed pretty much every year in and around the area of North Wildwood where all of the big changes have occured. I can't accurately describe the look on his face when we passed the area where the 24th St., Thunderbird, Flame and others used to stand.
All I could say was that he was lost.
I know how I feel about all of the changes that have occured over the past few years, but at least I've had a chance to see it happen gradually. I can't imagine what my dad, or Mr. Smalley, must have thought upon seeing an area that had remained largely unchanged for decades transformed instantly in their eyes.
So, while I feel that Mr. Smalley's reaction was a bit drastic, perhaps I am even underestimating the impact of the recent wave of redevelopment on those who have vacationed in and supported the Wildwoods for many years.
At the same time, I would like to think that those who truly love the Wildwoods would stick by and continue to support the island even during this "transition" time, or whatever it is.
As we were driving back down Surf Ave. toward the Skylark (where we stayed last week), my dad was reminiscing about the "good old days" and mentioned the 24th St. and the T-Bird several times.
He talked about how great it was to have fond memories of these places, and how important it was to create new ones in the Wildwoods today, however the resort evolves. I'm really glad he feels that way, despite the shock of seeing the area that was his childhood playground completely altered.
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tbear
Junior Member
Posts: 68
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Post by tbear on Aug 28, 2006 21:03:17 GMT -5
It is very heart wrenching to drive Surf. I felt so lost because nothing looked familiar anymore. When I saw Samuel's I got excited because it was still there. The Hawiian Rumble looked lost in the sea of surrounding condo/townhouses. I'd never quit Wildwood for the world, it is just sad to see the amount of major changes that have occured in such a short period of time. I think that may be the reason it is a shock to the system to most people, young and old.
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Sept 5, 2006 12:16:42 GMT -5
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