The beloved animatronic attractions, originally from Gillian’s Wonderland Pier,
The Man & Dog Show and The Monkey Band are now entertaining visitors at the Promenade Food Court in Ocean City.
Following the closure of the iconic amusement park in 2024, the displays found a new home at the Promenade Food Court, where they quickly became a popular attraction.
During the offseason, Andrew Boylan and a team of volunteers that includes Anthony Giovenella, Sam Lombardo, Ian McGill and Alex Corson completed a number of improvements designed to enhance the visitor experience.
Among the additions are several Wonderland Pier artifacts acquired from Obnoxious Antiques and other sources, including the former Gillian’s Wonderland Pier sign that once hung at Sixth Street, a monorail train and various statues from former attractions. A new animatronic character, Nick Panther, has also joined the collection.
The group constructed a new entrance at the base of the ramp leading to the exhibit space to increase visibility and welcome both Promenade customers and the general public. The Man & Dog and Nick Panther stages also received extensive upgrades, including a rebuilt stage, refreshed backdrops designed to resemble wood paneling and annual repairs to the animatronics. A flat-screen television now displays historic footage from Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and Gillian’s Island Water Park.
Visitors can also purchase Wonderland-themed T-shirts and Man & Dog coloring pages. New this season, the exhibit space is available for birthday parties and special events.
Boylan and his team have documented the renovation process through videos posted on YouTube and social media. They are also preparing to release a two-part documentary, “The Man & Dog: Shipping and Receiving,” which chronicles the final days of Wonderland Pier and the effort to preserve and relocate the animatronic show. Part one is scheduled for release July 18, followed by part two on July 25 on Boylan’s @Actors317 YouTube channel.
The exhibit is located at the Promenade Food Court, 744 Boardwalk in Ocean City. Admission is free, and donations are welcome.
