Morey's Piers
A family-owned seaside amusement and water-park complex on the Wildwoods boardwalk in New Jersey.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Morey's Piers is a family-owned seaside amusement and water-park complex located along the boardwalk and beachfront of Wildwood and North Wildwood, New Jersey. The operation developed from a single North Wildwood pier opened by the Morey family in 1969 into a multi-pier entertainment destination with more than 100 rides and attractions. Its assets include three principal amusement piers—Surfside Pier, Mariner's Pier, and Adventure Pier—as well as the Ocean Oasis Water Park + Beach Club and Raging Waters Water Park. The business originated when Bill Morey Sr. and Will Morey Sr. acquired two boardwalk lots near 25th and 26th streets in North Wildwood. Their first attraction was the Wipe Out, a large fiberglass slide that cost 25 cents per ride and used burlap sacks. The original Morey's Pier was later rebranded Surfside Pier. Expansion followed in 1976 with the acquisition of Marine Pier, which became Mariner's Landing and is now known as Mariner's Pier. The family also acquired the former Fun Pier, later operated as Wild Wheels and eventually renamed Adventure Pier. Morey's Piers combines traditional amusement-park rides with large-scale roller coasters, family attractions, thrill rides, games, food outlets, shops, and water-based entertainment. Surfside Pier is associated with attractions including The Great Nor'easter, AtmosFEAR, Zoom Phloom, and Runaway Tram. Mariner's Pier offers classic midway rides such as bumper cars, teacups, Musik Express, Sea Serpent, and the Giant Wheel. Adventure Pier has emphasized more active and high-thrill experiences, including The Great White wooden coaster, Grand Prix Raceway, Skyscraper, SpringShot, and Screamin' Swing. Water parks became an important part of the business during the 1980s. Raging Waters was first introduced behind Mariner's Landing in 1985 and expanded to the Surfside area in 1988. The Surfside water park was substantially redesigned and relaunched in 2006 as Ocean Oasis Water Park & Beach Club, with attractions such as Bonsai Beach, Endless River, water slides, children’s areas, and pool facilities. Raging Waters remains associated with the Mariner's Pier area and includes family play structures, slides, a lazy river, and activity pools. The company has remained family owned and operated across multiple generations. Its operations have also included the redevelopment and repurposing of former Wildwood attractions and piers, including the former Hunt's Pier site. Morey's Piers operates primarily as a seasonal destination, serving visitors to the Jersey Shore rather than functioning as a nationwide chain. Its positioning centers on multigenerational seaside entertainment, combining the visual identity and traditions of a classic boardwalk with modern thrill rides, water parks, and food and beverage experiences.
History
Morey's Piers began in 1969, when Bill Morey Sr. and Will Morey Sr. purchased two sections of boardwalk property near 25th and 26th streets in North Wildwood. The first operation, initially called Morey's Pier, opened with the Wipe Out, a large fiberglass slide. Riders descended in burlap sacks for a quarter, establishing the family business as a small but distinctive seaside attraction. The original pier was later renamed Surfside Pier as the operation developed a broader identity. The Moreys expanded in 1976 by purchasing Marine Pier in Wildwood. The pier had suffered fire damage, and seven of its twelve existing rides were discarded after the acquisition. The family rebuilt and expanded the site, renaming it Mariner's Landing. In 1984, the pier acquired the Sea Serpent roller coaster, and in 1985 it added water slides that became the original Raging Waters water park. The pier later adopted the shorter name Mariner's Pier as part of a broader branding update. A second major expansion came through the acquisition of Fun Pier. Under Morey ownership it was operated as Wild Wheels, an interactive amusement center designed around rides in which guests actively participated. The property later became Adventure Pier. Its attractions came to include The Great White wooden roller coaster, Grand Prix Raceway, Skyscraper, SpringShot, Screamin' Swing, helicopter tours, shops, and food outlets. The Skyscraper was moved to the pier in 2012 from the former Hunt's Pier site. Adventure Pier also underwent subsequent changes to its ride mix and layout, including the expansion of Grand Prix Raceway and the removal or relocation of smaller attractions. Morey's water-park business continued to grow. A second Raging Waters facility was established near Surfside Pier in 1988. After a major redevelopment, that facility reopened in 2006 as Ocean Oasis Water Park & Beach Club. The redesigned park introduced a more extensive collection of slides, children’s attractions, a lazy river, and beach-club amenities. Raging Waters remained behind the Mariner's Pier area, with features including Shipwreck Shoals, Camp KidTastrophe, speed slides, Shotgun Falls, a lazy river, and an activity pool. The company also acquired or managed portions of the former Hunt's Pier property. Hunt's Pier closed as an amusement operation in 1990 and subsequently passed through several names and uses, including Conko's Party Pier, Ocean Pier, Atlantic Pier, and Dinosaur Beach. Morey's later used the site for maintenance, storage, parking, retail, food businesses, and attractions such as a themed mirror maze. The former Hunt's Pier site illustrates the company's broader role in adapting and reusing Wildwood's changing boardwalk infrastructure. The business has experienced several safety-related incidents over its history. In 1995, an employee working beneath The Great Nor'easter was fatally struck by a passenger's foot, after which access restrictions were strengthened. In 1998, a Sea Serpent train stopped abruptly during a loop, injuring riders and leaving some temporarily inverted. In 2010, a child suffered a severe injury after a seizure on Zoom Phloom, leading management to prohibit solo riding on that attraction. A 2011 fatality involving the Giant Wheel prompted a no-single-riders policy, while the same year's Sea Dragon accident resulted in replacement of the ride. Morey's Piers remains a seasonal, family-operated Wildwoods attraction. Its business model combines admission or ride access with food, games, retail, water parks, and a large portfolio of rides. The brand's history is consequently tied both to the Morey family and to the evolution of the Wildwoods boardwalk as a major New Jersey shore destination.
- 2012
Skyscraper relocates to Adventure Pier
[1]The Skyscraper ride is moved from the former Hunt's Pier site to Adventure Pier.
- 2006
Surfside water park relaunched as Ocean Oasis
[1]The Surfside-area Raging Waters facility is redeveloped and reopened as Ocean Oasis Water Park & Beach Club.
- 1988
Second Raging Waters facility opens
[1]A second water-park operation is installed near Surfside Pier.
- 1985
Raging Waters begins
[1]Water slides are added behind Mariner's Landing, creating the first Raging Waters water park.
- 1985
Giant Wheel opens
[1]The 156-foot Giant Wheel opens at Mariner's Pier.
- 1976
Marine Pier acquired
[1]The Morey family purchases Marine Pier, later known as Mariner's Landing and Mariner's Pier.
- 1969
First Morey's pier opens
[1]Bill Morey Sr. and Will Morey Sr. open a North Wildwood pier featuring the Wipe Out fiberglass slide.
Products and positioning
A family-owned Jersey Shore destination that blends classic boardwalk amusement traditions with major thrill rides, family attractions, and beachfront water parks.
Amusement pier · 1969
Surfside Pier
The first Morey pier, opened in 1969 in North Wildwood. Surfside Pier combines family rides and thrill attractions, including Zoom Phloom, AtmosFEAR, The Great Nor'easter, and Runaway Tram. Its identity developed from the original Morey's Pier and reflects the company's transition from a single novelty attraction into a broad amusement operation.
Amusement pier · 1976
Mariner's Pier
Originally acquired as Marine Pier in 1976 and later called Mariner's Landing, this pier presents a traditional boardwalk amusement mix. Its attractions include bumper cars, teacups, Musik Express, Sea Serpent, Ignis Fatuus, and the Giant Wheel. It also serves as the location associated with the Raging Waters water park.
Amusement pier
Adventure Pier
The former Fun Pier and Wild Wheels property, renamed Adventure Pier during the mid-2000s. It emphasizes active and high-thrill experiences, including The Great White wooden roller coaster, Grand Prix Raceway, Skyscraper, SpringShot, Screamin' Swing, helicopter tours, shops, and food outlets.
Water park · 2006
Ocean Oasis Water Park + Beach Club
A beachfront water park behind Surfside Pier, relaunched in 2006 after redevelopment. It includes water slides, a lazy river, children’s areas, hot-tub and bar facilities, and beach-club amenities.
Water park · 1985
Raging Waters Water Park
The water park associated with Mariner's Pier. It includes the Shipwreck Shoals and Camp KidTastrophe children’s areas, speed slides, Shotgun Falls, a lazy river, and an activity pool with interactive challenges.
Brand decisions
2012
Sea Dragon replaced by RiptideGeneration changeBackground
The Sea Dragon was involved in an August 2011 accident in which five people were injured after its center mast broke.
Action taken
The ride was replaced for the 2012 season with a newer model called Riptide.
Aftermath
The replacement removed the damaged ride from the operating attraction portfolio while preserving a similar ride category.
2011
Giant Wheel solo-rider policyStrategyBackground
An 11-year-old guest died after falling from the Giant Wheel while riding alone. A state review found the restraints functioning properly but recommended restrictions on children riding without another guest.
Action taken
Morey's Piers introduced a no-single-riders policy for the Giant Wheel.
Aftermath
The policy remained a notable operational safety change associated with the attraction.
2006
Rebrand and redevelopment of the Surfside water parkStrategyBackground
The water park near Surfside Pier had operated under the Raging Waters name since 1988 and required a broader identity and updated attraction mix.
Action taken
Morey's Piers redeveloped and relaunched the facility as Ocean Oasis Water Park & Beach Club.
Aftermath
The site became one of the company's principal water-park offerings, with slides, a lazy river, children’s attractions, and beach-club features.
Recent events
- 2021
Bomb threat prompts evacuation of the three piers[1]
Other
A bomb threat targeting Morey's three amusement piers led to a mass evacuation and a multi-agency search. Authorities found no explosives or weapons of mass destruction, and the business resumed operations the following day.
- 2021
Guest struck by seagull on SpringShot[1]
Other
A 13-year-old guest was struck in the face by a seagull while riding SpringShot. The incident did not result in reported injury.
- 2011
Sea Dragon accident injures five guests[1]
Other
Five people were injured when the Sea Dragon ride's center mast broke. One person required hospital treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, while four others were treated at the scene. The ride was replaced for the following season by a newer model called Riptide.
- 2011
Child dies after falling from the Giant Wheel[1]
Other · Lawsuit
An 11-year-old guest died after falling from the Giant Wheel. A state investigation reported that the ride's restraints were operating properly and recommended that children not ride the Ferris wheel alone. Morey's Piers subsequently adopted a no-single-riders policy for the attraction.
Sources1 sources
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