|
Welcome
Aug 25, 2005 21:08:58 GMT -5
Post by RM Walkbored on Aug 25, 2005 21:08:58 GMT -5
Here comes Halloween season babies. Lock your doors. HAHAHAHAHA
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 20, 2006 2:01:30 GMT -5
Post by clnancy50 on Jun 20, 2006 2:01:30 GMT -5
Hello---I'm new to this. Could someone please tell me if there's anything happening around the Atlantic City area? I don't mean casinos', either. I mean any new piers opening -up; where old closed ones used to be. I was an old Steel Pier fan and I really miss those days. I went to Atlantic City maybe 3 times tops since the casinos started and I'll tell you, the beach and everything was really sad.
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 21, 2006 21:37:07 GMT -5
Post by hauntfan on Jun 21, 2006 21:37:07 GMT -5
clnancy50, have you been to Steel Pier today? Its filled with rides. They are kind of typical, cheesy carnival rides but its a neat pier. The thing about Steel Pier is it has so much more potential. If they put a first class walk through haunted house or dark ride on it I would go often because I only live about a half hour from Atlantic City. Also Pier One mall which was designed to look like a ship has been gutted and they are about to reopen it as a flashy, upscale, times square advertising look kind of place. Shiffs Central Pier is kind of pathetic basically only offering Go Carts, but I will say that the piers building is classic art deco worthy of Miami Beach and it has a decent arcade. As far as touristy attractions on the AC Boardwalk, you can't go wrong with the high quality and fun Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. Yeah they can be found in alot of tourist towns but it is a good time. I just wish they would build a haunted castle or something high quality on Steel Pier, its mostly pretty generic.
|
|
Crippled Visions
Junior Member
"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer."
Posts: 85
|
Welcome
Jun 21, 2006 22:38:34 GMT -5
Post by Crippled Visions on Jun 21, 2006 22:38:34 GMT -5
Also Pier One mall which was designed to look like a ship has been gutted and they are about to reopen it as a flashy, upscale, times square advertising look kind of place. Will the same stores re-open in that mall? I was there many years ago, and it seemed like a typical shopping mall...the gap, american eagle, sam goody, etc. How long has it been closed? Was there structural problems with the place?
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 24, 2006 9:02:00 GMT -5
Post by hauntfan on Jun 24, 2006 9:02:00 GMT -5
Crippled Visions-
No, the same kind of stores will not return. It will be all high upscale mayby with a couple mid cost stores mixed in. Think Rodeo Drive. The average middle class person won't be able to afford most of the things in the new pier. Atlantic City, just like every other tourist town is trying to attract the rich, upscale people who they feel will spend alot more money than the average tourist does. The only thing I am kind of excited about is there is supposed to be a Phillips Seafood House opening in there which would be the first one in New Jersey. Phillips started in Ocean City Maryland ( one of my favorite shore towns- it reminds me of the way Wildwood was in the 80s) and expanded to Baltimore and Myrtle Beach. If you like Seafood and crab cakes Phillips is probably the best I have ever been to. But I am not sure when they are going to open Phillips.
The mall has been closed probably about 2 years now. There wasn't any structural problems with the place, they just decided as part of AC's strategy to compete not only with Las Vegas but now with all the other local casinos that will be built (Philadelphia, Delaware etc...) that they needed other attractions to differentiate themselves from those new places like upscale shopping and entertainment.
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 24, 2006 12:13:23 GMT -5
Post by robert on Jun 24, 2006 12:13:23 GMT -5
Yep, AC will become more expensive, as if it isn't already expensive with all the casinos. I guess the days of the dollar store are fading fast. Big resort places all of a sudden want to attract people who can afford expensive things so the real estate values are going up, etc. The same people who drive Mercedes-Benz's and SUV's and live in McMansions in the suburbs with nicely manicured lawns. The poor people from downtown Philly aren't going to be able to afford jack sh-- at the shore pretty soon. Seaside Heights and Ocean City, MD seem to be the only places where there isn't rampant development and the dark rides are decent.
|
|
Crippled Visions
Junior Member
"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer."
Posts: 85
|
Welcome
Jun 24, 2006 22:29:55 GMT -5
Post by Crippled Visions on Jun 24, 2006 22:29:55 GMT -5
Crippled Visions- No, the same kind of stores will not return. It will be all high upscale mayby with a couple mid cost stores mixed in. Think Rodeo Drive. The average middle class person won't be able to afford most of the things in the new pier. Atlantic City, just like every other tourist town is trying to attract the rich, upscale people who they feel will spend alot more money than the average tourist does. The only thing I am kind of excited about is there is supposed to be a Phillips Seafood House opening in there which would be the first one in New Jersey. Phillips started in Ocean City Maryland ( one of my favorite shore towns- it reminds me of the way Wildwood was in the 80s) and expanded to Baltimore and Myrtle Beach. If you like Seafood and crab cakes Phillips is probably the best I have ever been to. But I am not sure when they are going to open Phillips. The mall has been closed probably about 2 years now. There wasn't any structural problems with the place, they just decided as part of AC's strategy to compete not only with Las Vegas but now with all the other local casinos that will be built (Philadelphia, Delaware etc...) that they needed other attractions to differentiate themselves from those new places like upscale shopping and entertainment. Thanks for the info.
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 26, 2006 3:21:57 GMT -5
Post by clnancy50 on Jun 26, 2006 3:21:57 GMT -5
Robert and hauntfan, thanks for the info on Atlantic City. I was in that mall a few times and to me it wasn't bad. But I understand what you mean about kind of catering to the rich. Why do you think they built the casinos? $$$$$$$; that's why. Are you talking about the SAME Steel Pier that used to go out about a mile into the ocean? Unless they've built another one, I really don't remember even seeing much of anything, concerning that one, the last time I was there. I always thought the Steel Pier used to be near the Taj Mahal; but maybe I'm wrong. I still have pictures of the diving horse; which was at the very end of the pier and the diving bell, that took you below the ocean. The last time I was there, Central Pier was completely closed-up, so at LEAST they're trying to do something. They need to bring more rides back and more entertainment FOR KIDS AND THE FAMILY!! I love Ripley's and always go there in Ocean City, Maryland. Atlantic City held memories for me before I was married, and Wildwood and Ocean City, Marland held memories when my children were young.
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 26, 2006 22:14:48 GMT -5
Post by hauntfan on Jun 26, 2006 22:14:48 GMT -5
Yes, clnancy50, the Steel Pier is directly across from the Taj Mahal, you can't miss it. It's actually a pretty cool looking pier. It looks so classic but as I mentioned before the rides are kind of typical and I just think the pier has so much more potential if they would just put some kind of a first class haunted attraction in the great tradition of Jersey Shore amusement piers. I think that the piers owners probably don't think their clientele would pay $5 to $15 for a true first class attraction experience.
An interesting fact about Steel Pier is that it is either owned or at least operated by the Cantanazos who briefly operated the ill fated Dinosaur Beach on the former Hunt's Pier in Wildwood. If you go on the Steel Pier today you can still see fiberglass dinosaurs and signage that says Dinosaur Beach.
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 27, 2006 0:24:05 GMT -5
Post by clnancy50 on Jun 27, 2006 0:24:05 GMT -5
Okay, please don't think I'm stupid but is this the origianl Steel Pier? See, I haven't been there for quite awhile and all I remember the last time I was there was just part of an empty pier. But at least I am happy to hear that they are at least TRYING to make a go at something. It was just kind of sad when I was there to see alot of abandoned piers that were so lively in their day. It would really be great if someone could put some pictures on this site of what it looks like now. Wildwood and Atlantic City bring back so many memories for me and I really don't know right now when I will get there again. As far as the variety of people on or around the boardwalk, are there alot of younger people coming back? I think if they were to put in more exciting rides or haunted attractions, that would draw more, don't you think? I guess it all depends on who the management is.
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 27, 2006 0:49:23 GMT -5
Post by robert on Jun 27, 2006 0:49:23 GMT -5
Yeah, it kind of upset me that Dino Beach closed because at least THEY cared about the Nugget and ran it. Wasn't the pier profitable or something? Was it profitable when Bud Hunt ran it, such as the 1980-1985 period? I don't think huntspier4ever is on this site, Bud's granddaughter Kristen, but still I have to watch what I say about him in case she reads this site. Yeah, Atlantic City in it's hey day was just like Wildwood, they had several amusement piers filled with rides and several dark rides some built by the great Bill Tracy. Then the decline came around the late 70's when the piers closed and sat abandoned and some burned down in the 80's. A similar story to WW. Atlantic City should open a haunted attraction to make up for the loss of Brigantine Castle, but I'm not sure how or if a haunted attraction would work in today's casino environment, but then again Niagara Falls has haunted houses/castles AND casinos.
|
|
Crippled Visions
Junior Member
"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer."
Posts: 85
|
Welcome
Jun 27, 2006 21:32:08 GMT -5
Post by Crippled Visions on Jun 27, 2006 21:32:08 GMT -5
I doubt that a stand-alone haunted attraction would work in Atlantic City. What they need is a horror themed hotel/casino...like the different themed casinos in Las Vegas. They could build the hotel to look like a huge castle....with a moat and draw-bridge that attaches to the boardwalk. They could have horror themed slot machines and facades inside. They could possibly even have a horror ride-through ride inside and an arcade/play area for children. Parents never know what to do with their kids when in the casinos...this could be the answer. Well...if I were Donald Trump...or Robert...that's what I'd do.
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 27, 2006 21:53:43 GMT -5
Post by hauntfan on Jun 27, 2006 21:53:43 GMT -5
clnancy50- check out these websites. steel-pier.com/ and www.steelpier.com/You should like these. I am pretty sure the Steel Pier of today is a completely new construction but it is in the same location as the old one.
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 28, 2006 1:27:24 GMT -5
Post by robert on Jun 28, 2006 1:27:24 GMT -5
The one site says that Steel Pier is closing after this season?
|
|
|
Welcome
Jun 28, 2006 3:56:06 GMT -5
Post by clnancy50 on Jun 28, 2006 3:56:06 GMT -5
hauntfan or robert, Thank you so much for introducing me to that Steel Pier website!! My mouth almost fell open when I started looking at all the pictures and I was reading all the information! Yes, the one site DOES say that the Steel Pier will be closing. Good old Mr. Trump bought it or something. I guess I should expect that it will never be the way it was. But from SOME of the pictures, it really didn't look that bad; of course not like it was, but at least it was something. But what memories when I looked at some of those pictures!!I have a picture of the large tower that I believe was from the Steeple Chase Pier, when it was laying over in the sand. And then to see it the way it was--well, I can't tell you how it made me feel. As far as a casino with a horror ride; I don't think kids are even allowed inside. I remember the one time I was there and my son and I just walked through a casino to get to the boaordwalk and I was told about it because he was under age. So I don't think that would work; not inside one anyways. Thanks again for all the info!
|
|