Leaders in Jersey Shore town split vote over fate of Wonderland Pier site
The future of an iconic boardwalk staple remains up in the air after leaders in Ocean City came to a split decision on Wednesday night.
On Jan. 7 the Jersey Shore town’s board voted four to four on whether the Wonderland Pier qualifies as “an area in need of rehabilitation.”
If they had voted yes on the zoning change, it could possibly help paved the way for a large, controversial 252 room hotel proposed for the property.
Before the vote, the Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Association president, Wes Kazmarck, said that he saw this as a make-or-break decision for the defunct Wonderland Pier that could ultimately have broader impacts on the future of the boardwalk.
The move comes as a surprising, significant setback for developer, and owner of the site, Eustace Mita.
“If it doesn’t go into rehabilitation, then it’s definitely I’m out. I have to be out,” Mita explained.
Mita’s company, ICONA Resorts, already has upscale hotels in Avalon, Cape May and Diamond Beach.
The issue now faces new uncertainty as it most likely goes back to city council.
“We’re listening to everybody in this situation. It’s a very difficult situation. It’s a very unique situation,” Ocean City Councilmember Jody Levchuk said. “I just think the missing link is just some more information that needs to come forward.”
The next city council meeting is set for Jan. 8.
Mita told NBC10 that he can’t keep waiting for answers and spending lots of money while this gets bounced around. He says barring a major turnaround, he’d now consider selling the site to the city.
Iconic Ocean City landmark closes
Gillian’s Wonderland Pier closed on Oct. 13, 2024, after entertaining generations of children on the Ocean City Boardwalk since 1929.
The pier former owner and Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said back in 2024 that he park that’s been in his family for 94 years was no longer good business.
