Escapees July-August 2022

skp stops

A Great Jersey Shore Destination Seaside Heights, New Jersey

However, budget issues stalled the project in 1916, so it sold to another businessman who made the ride a success. The completion of a bridge connecting the island to the mainland and Toms River in 1914, plus the carousel and boardwalk, led to population growth between 1920 and 1930. Entrepreneurs built more attractions and the boardwalk was extended. But, Seaside Heights has had its share of disasters. Because of a malfunctioning neon sign, there was a signi fi cant fi re in 1955. The fi re, driven by 50-mile -per-hour winds, blew the fi re south, engul fi ng the entire pier. A total of 85 buildings were destroyed, with an estimated four million dollars in damage. Beginning on October 29, 2012, substantial portions of the boardwalk were damaged, and much of the borough fl ooded due to Hurricane Sandy. In addition, both the Funtown Pier and Casino Pier suffered

If of have

you’ve ever watched an episode MTV’s Jersey Shore, then you glimpsed the sights and sounds of

fun-loving Seaside Heights. F or more than 100 years, tourists have fl ocked to this barrier island that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, for sun, sea and sandy beaches. Permanent residents account for less than 3,000. However, the “population” swells to as many as 65,000 during the summer months. Seaside Heights was incorporated as a borough in 1913, and named for its location on the Atlantic Ocean. In 1915, the “amusement” idea began to take shape when the Senate Amusement Company of Philadelphia planned to build a covered pier to house a carousel.

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ESCAPEES Magazine July/August 2022