Morey’s Piers is a family-owned amusement complex stretching along the boardwalk in Wildwood and North Wildwood, New Jersey. Founded in 1969 by brothers Will and Bill Morey Sr. after they spotted an amusement slide on a Florida vacation, it grew from a single attraction into three separate oceanfront piers connected by the boardwalk.
Today the operation, still run by the Morey family, combines Surfside, Mariner’s, and Adventure piers with two beachfront waterparks, Ocean Oasis and Raging Waters, for more than 100 rides and attractions total. Its steel and wooden coasters, a towering Ferris wheel, and classic boardwalk games make it one of the Jersey Shore’s defining summer destinations.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Wildwood & North Wildwood, New Jersey
- Operator: Morey family (independent, second/third generation)
- Opened: 1969
- Size: About 18 acres across six beach blocks
- Annual Visitors: Estimated around 3.5 million
- Signature Attraction: Great Nor’Easter suspended coaster (opened 1995)
The Ride Experience
Each of the three piers has its own character. Surfside Pier is home to the Great Nor’Easter, a Vekoma suspended coaster that opened in 1995 with riders’ legs dangling free below the track as it swoops 115 feet above the ocean, along with the Zoom Phloom log flume, a 1985 O.D. Hopkins-built ride with two drops that plunges riders under the boardwalk. Mariner’s Pier feels like a traditional amusement park, anchored by the 156-foot Giant Wheel that has offered boardwalk views since 1985, plus classics like the Sea Serpent and Musik Express. Adventure Pier carries the wooden coaster The Great White, built by Custom Coasters International and opened in 1996, alongside flat rides and go-karts at the Grand Prix Raceway.
From Slide to Boardwalk Institution
What started as a single giant slide on a small stretch of Wildwood boardwalk expanded over five decades into a multi-pier resort operation, with the Morey family adding coasters, waterparks, and hotels while keeping the business independent rather than selling to a larger chain. The Great Nor’Easter’s suspended design proved influential enough in the coaster industry that Vekoma went on to build similar layouts at other parks worldwide.
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Morey’s Piers FAQs
When did Morey’s Piers open?
Morey’s Piers opened in 1969, founded by brothers Will and Bill Morey Sr. on the Wildwood, New Jersey boardwalk.
How many piers make up Morey’s Piers?
There are three: Surfside Pier, Mariner’s Pier, and Adventure Pier, plus two connected beachfront waterparks, Ocean Oasis and Raging Waters.
What is the most famous ride at Morey’s Piers?
The Great Nor’Easter, a Vekoma suspended steel coaster that opened in 1995 on Surfside Pier, is the park’s signature attraction.
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Photo: Dplcrnj / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.