A Jersey Shore institution may have closed earlier this month after 94 years in business on Ocean City’s boardwalk, but community members aren’t ready to say goodbye just yet.
The Friends of History and Culture of Ocean City New Jersey will host a community photo event Thursday evening cherished Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.
OCNJ History and Culture president and co-founder Bill Merrit said this morning on CBS News Philadelphia that the organization wants people from the community to come and pose in an effort to save the family theme park.
“This is an iconic property on the boardwalk. It’s probably the most important asset on the boardwalk in Ocean City,” Merrit said. “And our plan is to get as many people as possible in front of it and show that photo to as many people as possible so we can work to save it.”
The community photo is scheduled for 5:45 tonight in front of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier. Everyone is invited to participate.
After years of financial trouble, Jay Gillian, the operator of Gillian’s and the mayor of Ocean City, announced in August that the amusement pier would close for good, saying it was no longer a viable business.
While the monument’s future is still unclear, Councilman Jody Levchuk said he would like to see the rides and games remain at that location.
“I would love to see a vibrant amusement park at the base of the OC Boardwalk and continue to make Ocean City what it is today: a tourist attraction for family entertainment,” Levchuk said.
Cell phone video taken by Ocean City resident Marie Crawford showed the pier’s famous mural being painted more than a week after it closed.
