Kids & Family

Shuttered Amusement Park Will Return In Part To Ocean City This Summer

Though it closed and has plans to become a luxury hotel, there's a family-friendly replacement for Wonderland in store for the short term:

Here's what will become of Wonderland for this summer.
Here's what will become of Wonderland for this summer. (Veronica Flesher/Patch)

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Gillian's Wonderland Pier closed at the end of the last summer season. Developer and ICONA Resorts CEO Eustace Mita has plans to transform the site into a luxury hotel. But before those plans go before city officials, the amusement park is set to return this summer - at least in part.

An arcade with new games and a pizzeria will open at Wonderland in time for Memorial Day weekend, so the spot won't be empty this summer, the Press of Atlantic City reported. The rides will not be in operation.

Mita told NJ.com that he felt reopening it in part for the summer was the right thing to do.

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The pizzeria will be called Ocean City Pizza Company, according to reports.

Eventually, Mita hopes to transform the property into ICONA in Wonderland, a 252-room luxury hotel, and something Mita believes is desperately needed in Ocean City.

Find out what's happening in Ocean Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

He seeks to label the property a redevelopment zone, which he said would help the hotel get built faster.

The proposal has been met with opposition from those who wish to see the site remain a family-friendly business.

Mita plans to officially propose the project before city officials this summer.

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