Structural deterioration at the former Wonderland Pier property has grown severe enough that the site’s iconic Ferris wheel may soon have to be demolished.
According to reports, part of the former amusement park’s back deck has collapsed, with damage affecting a concrete retaining wall and wooden decking.
The city has issued a “notice of unsafe structure” for the property and ordered corrective action, including an engineering report to determine the extent of the damage, OCNJ Daily reported.
Ocean City’s construction official, Neil Byrne, referred questions to Doug Bergen, the city’s public information officer.
“Ocean City’s interest in this matter is limited to a cinder-block wall below one of the decks toward the rear of the property,” Bergen said in a statement to Shore Local. “The construction official sent a Notice of Unsafe Structure, along with a request for an engineer’s report and plan of corrective action, after receiving a report about the emergent condition earlier this month.
Mita told the Ocean City Sentinel that the deterioration has progressed toward the 144-foot Ferris wheel. He said engineers have advised him that the wheel cannot safely remain in place and that demolition has become more urgent.
The demolition could be costly. Mita said he is getting cost estimates, according to the Sentinel.
He told the outlet that previous repairs to the Ferris wheel were welded rather than bolted, meaning the structure cannot simply be disassembled so it will likely need to be cut apart with torches.
The Ferris wheel had previously been part of Mita’s plans for the future of the property. When he presented an early vision for a luxury hotel, the proposal included retaining some of Wonderland’s rides, including the Ferris wheel and carousel. Mita told the Sentinel that the recent structural problems have effectively ended that possibility.
The damage comes nearly two years after Wonderland Pier closed permanently. The amusement park was purchased by Mita in 2021, while former owner Jay Gillian continued operating it under a lease. Gillian announced the park’s permanent closure in 2024, citing financial difficulties.
Since then, the future of the property has been the subject of debate in Ocean City.
Mita has sought permission to develop a hotel on the site, which is located in an area of the Boardwalk where hotels are not currently permitted. City Council designated the property as an “area in need of rehabilitation” in June, a move that creates a potential pathway for the proposed development.
Mita’s original proposal called for a 252-room, nine-story hotel with an estimated cost of $150 million to $200 million. Mita has since said he is negotiating with the city over a scaled-back proposal that would be seven stories and contain fewer than 252 rooms.
The proposal has divided the community, with supporters and opponents expressing differing views about the potential effects of the project.
A coalition of residents and community organizations also filed a lawsuit in August challenging the city’s rehabilitation designation. The lawsuit alleges that the designation did not meet legal requirements and raises concerns about alleged conflicts of interest. Mita has denied conflicts.
Meanwhile, Mita said he remains committed to developing the property and is engaged in negotiations with the city over a formal development agreement.
Ocean City Councilman Keith Hartzell said during a Sept. 10 council meeting that the governing body would proceed cautiously during negotiations and consider community input before reaching an agreement.
As the future of the property remains under discussion, Mita said immediate attention is now focused on addressing the deteriorating structures.
The city has required Mita to respond to the structural concerns, and he told the Ocean City Sentinel that he is working with engineers and steel specialists to determine the appropriate next steps.
Julia graduated from Rider University in 2024 with a BA in multiplatform journalism and minor in social media strategies. In addition to reporting on local news for Shore Local, she is a social media strategist for small businesses. Connect with her: shorelocaljulia@gmail.com or @juliatrain on Instagram.
