Iconic Boardwalk Statue Damaged
[Update: Morey’s Piers is removing this statue and not replacing it]
An iconic Wildwood Boardwalk statue may be gone for good.
Late last night, as we were filming the Ferris wheel for a Youtube video, we decided to walk by Mariner’s pier and noticed something strange.
There was white foam blowing down the boardwalk. This foam looks like the kind of hardened plastic used for housing insulation.
As we followed the debris, we found ourselves standing outside the front of Morey’s Mariner’s Pier.
For those older generations, we are referring to Mariner’s Landing located at Schellenger Ave & Boardwalk.
In the front of the pier, trash cans were moved closer to the entrance and yellow caution tape was blocking off the left-side entrance.
After walking around a bit we hadn’t the slightest idea of what was going on until we looked up.
Standing just above “La Bakerie” is a statue that has been on the boardwalk since, as far as we can remember, the early 90s.
In its current form, it’s a long column with a beach ball on top of it. Sitting just on that beach ball is one of Morey’s Piers mascots, Sunny.
Prior to 2006, which is when I believe they changed it, there used to be a Mariner on top holding on to a ship’s wheel. At that time the ball used to be green.
Now I know not many people took notice of this since when researching for photos none turned up.
Long story short, it looks like the wind had a bit of fun with the statue as half of it was missing.
As you can see in the photo below, the left-hand side of the status seemed to be ripped apart. This only left the right side in place with Sunny still sitting on top and waving to passer-bys.
Iconic Boardwalk Statue Damaged