Business & Tech
Here's What's In Store For The Future Of Wonderland In Ocean City
The iconic carousel and Ferris wheel will be saved in the proposed seven-story, 252-room "ICONA in Wonderland" hotel, reports say.
OCEAN CITY, NJ — Plans have been unveiled for the luxury hotel set to replace Gillian's Wonderland Pier on the Ocean City Boardwalk, according to reports.
Local developer and ICONA Resorts CEO Eustace Mita plans to build a seven-and-a-half story, 252-room hotel aptly titled "ICONA in Wonderland," according to multiple media reports. Patch has reached out to ICONA Resorts for more information.
Mita told the Philadelphia Inquirer, which first reported the news of the hotel, that he would spend $1.5 million to rebuild the carousel, and another $1 million to move and elevate the Ferris wheel, as well as redo the lighting to make it more visible as an Ocean City landmark.
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The Inquirer also reported that Mita wanted to save the kiddie wet boat ride, but possibly just for display.
Action News reported that the hotel would cost about between $135 to $155 million.
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In early 2023, Mita proposed a $150 million luxury hotel on the Boardwalk directly next to Wonderland Pier. At the time, he noted that there hasn't been a new hotel in Ocean City in more than 50 years, and many former hotels have been transformed into condominiums.
That proposal was shot down by Mayor Jay Gillian, who also co-owned Wonderland Pier with Mita. Mita entered into a partnership with Gillian in 2021 when Wonderland Pier was facing foreclosure, which bought the amusement park a few more years before it finally closed for good last month.
High rise hotels have been a source of controversy in Ocean City over the past several years. It was a key focal point in the 2022 mayoral election.
Both candidates, Gillian and Councilman Keith Hartzell, voiced opposition to building high rise hotels on the Boardwalk.
"As long as I'm mayor it's absolutely not going to happen," Gillian said in reference to building high rise hotels at the time.
The plan for ICONA in Wonderland is yet to officially go before city officials. It will need approvals from councilmembers and the planning and zoning boards.
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