Saying Goodbye to Gillian’s Wonderland – Final Tour 2024
After nearly a century of bringing joy to families on the Ocean City Boardwalk, Gillian’s Wonderland Pier is set to close its doors.
Jay Gillian, who has been at the helm of the beloved amusement park, announced his retirement and the closure of both Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and 6th Street Pizza and Grill after 47 years of dedication to the family business.
Saying Goodbye to Gillian’s Wonderland – Final Tour 2024
For Jay, the park was more than just a business–it was a lifelong journey that began at the age of 13, when he started working alongside his brother John, learning to fix rides and immersing himself in the operations that would eventually define his career.
Wonderland Pier became intertwined with his identity and the identity of Ocean City itself.
In a heartbreaking statement posted on the park’s website, Jay expressed the emotional weight of his decision: “I tried my best to sustain Wonderland for as long as possible–through increasingly difficult challenges each year. But it’s no longer a viable business.”
The closure leaves a void, both in the community and in the hearts of those who have cherished memories at the pier.
The sight of its once-vibrant Ferris wheel will soon fade into history, replaced by uncertainty and questions about what will fill the space where laughter and joy once echoed.
Many are left wondering how Jay lost the lease on the very place his family helped build–a place that had been synonymous with summer magic for so many years.
Much had to do with the financial debt that Gillian’s had taken on over the years including the pandemic.
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In 2021, Gillian’s Wonderland had partnered with Eustace Mita’s ICONA to help with the debt.
The announcement followed news from several months ago that the Cape May County sheriff had ordered Gillian’s pier to be auctioned, citing a default on $8 million in loans, some of which had been from 2019.
In a recent message from Gillian, it appears that ICONA now owns the property where Gillian’s Wonderland is located.
He stated, “The property itself is no longer mine, so I can’t speak to its future. But I’ll always have a lifetime of priceless memories, and I hope you will too.”
A public meeting is scheduled for September 14th, giving Ocean City 2nd Ward residents an opportunity to discuss quality of life issues from 4th to 12th streets.
While this meeting is private and won’t play a significant role in determining the future of Wonderland Pier, it’s still an important event for locals to attend, either in person or virtually, to address various community concerns.
Though Mr. Mita, the owner of the Wonderland property, will not be present at this meeting, he is expected to share his plans for the property in the coming months.
He has requested six months to conduct a thorough evaluation of Wonderland Pier’s current state before presenting his vision for the future.
In the past Mita has expressed plans to build a massive $150 million beachfront hotel on the lot next to where Wonderland Pier was. The plans were not formally submitted to gauge interest and according to minutes, opposition caused the plans to be dead on arrival to any zoning and planning meeting.
This still leaves Ocean City visitors and residents guessing about what could be coming to this iconic park.
In response to the potential closure of the iconic Ferris wheel, a group of passionate locals has banded together to launch a “Save Ferris” campaign on social media.
This grassroots movement, inspired by a deep love for Ocean City’s historic boardwalk attractions, aims to raise awareness about the wheel’s significance to the community.
Those driving down the Garden State Parkway know that this wheel is a beacon for the city and is a giant billboard screaming, “Come in and have fun.”
Supporters of the campaign have been sharing nostalgic stories, personal photos, and videos of the Ferris wheel, emphasizing its role as a symbol of summer memories and Ocean City tradition.
Since no one knows what the future holds, the Wildwood Video Archive stopped by to document the park so that it can be included in the article.
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