Remembering The Hunt’s Starlight Ballroom Fire

Remembering The Hunt’s Starlight Ballroom Fire

In the year 1981, a wind-whipped fire ravaged a row of stores on a sprawling amusement pier located in the heart of Wildwood. This devastating event caused extensive damage, amounting to millions of dollars, and tragically destroyed the site of a historic dance hall.

In 1936, the Hunt family embarked on a new venture by establishing the Starlight Ballroom on Hunt’s Pier.

Due to the popularity of the pier and the need for more space, the ballroom moved to Ocean Pier and kept its name.

During balmy summer evenings, locals and visitors alike would dress in their finest attire to gather at this esteemed venue. It was a place where one could master the art of jitterbug while listening to some of the biggest bands such as Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller.

The Wildwoods were known as the Vegas of the East Coast, prior to Atlantic City, which meant all the big stars wanted to perform in the iconic Starlight Ballroom.

Also See: Cape May’s Sunken Submarine USS S-5

Prior to the 1981 fire, another broke out on Ocean Pier in 1943, causing Ballroom to move once again, this time on Oak Avenue.

In the early hours of August 21st, 1981, the fire erupted amidst gusty 25-mile-an-hour winds that carried embers across a beach, igniting the pier. Firefighters from 13 neighboring communities valiantly battled the blaze, while four of their own were treated for smoke inhalation.

Regrettably, the fire engulfed twelve stores at two different locations on the pier, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The Mayor of Wildwood at the time, Guy Muziano, estimated the losses to be in the millions of dollars.

The fire originated around 10:15 PM the previous night at the rear of the Starlight Ballroom. The ballroom had recently undergone a transformation, becoming a pinball arcade, fudge shop, and two other stores.

Tragically, the fire quickly spread to the amusement pier, known as Mariner’s Landing, which spanned the size of a football field. Authorities reported that the ballroom, along with the stores on the pier, including the renowned Morey’s “haunted house,” was completely destroyed.

By daybreak, the Starlight building had collapsed into the sandy ground, leaving behind only a charred floor. However, the complex of rides on the pier remained unscathed.

Also see: South Jersey’s Ship Graveyard

Police Chief, at the time, Harry Breslin estimated that thousands of individuals were evacuated from the boardwalk once the fire broke out. At the height of the blaze, flames soared up to 40 feet in the sky. Police Lieutenant Wilbur Ostrander remarked, “It’s the main section of the downtown center. It’s real bad.”

The injured firefighters received medical treatment for exhaustion and smoke inhalation at the Wildwood Medical Center, a local clinic serving the town. The nearest hospital was situated nine miles away in Cape May.

Muziani expressed gratitude that the wind had shifted southward during the incident, as a northward wind could have put additional rows of stores at risk.

After three arduous hours, authorities finally declared the fire under control. The tragic event left an indelible mark on the town’s history and served as a somber reminder of the destructive power of fires in close-knit communities like Wildwood.

The aftermath of the Hunt’s Starlight Ballroom fire was captured on camera thanks to a camera crew that was down to film the night before. (which you can watch below)

Photos by Mark Piscitelli