Playland's Ferris Wheel Shines Ray Of Hope For Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Everyone has their own sign that summer is returning to Ocean City. The annual reopening of Playland's Castaway Cove is as much a signal as any that the seasons are changing.

But those plans are on hold as New Jersey deals with the novel coronavirus. The amusement park was scheduled to open April 4, but now no one knows when Playland's can reopen.

Playland's, however, did something simple to give people hope. They illuminated the ferris wheel that much of Ocean City can see, renewing their Christmas-time tradition.

"It always gets people in the Christmas spirit," said Vice President Brian S. Hartley. "We thought this could be something to uplift people, and we can try to give them something to look forward to."

There's little happening at Playland's now. Governor Phil Murphy ordered the closure of "non-essential" businesses, so employees were sent home.

They expected to open the season with two new rides. The new 110-foot-long super slide is already in the park. The other will be a "rock and roll ride," a circular attraction with cars moving as music plays.

But they haven't been able to receive the rock and roll ride yet. The ride was set to arrive from Italy, but shipments have been suspended because of the country's severe coronavirus outbreak.

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Before the park had to send employees home, however, they were able to test several rides and get them inspected.

"When all this does pass," Hartley said, "hopefully we’ll be that much closer to getting ready to get open."

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