The Golden Nugget in Wildwood New Jersey

Back in January of 2009, reports swirled around the internet about fate of the Golden Nugget Mine Ride at Morey's Pier (formerly Hunt’s Pier,  Dinosaur Beach Pier).  The Golden Nugget was a classic nostalgic boardwalk attraction that was a highly rated and loved hybrid roller coaster and dark ride but had been sitting dormant since it was shut down in 1999.  Although there was a huge following for the ride made evident by all of the public voices and the turnout at it's final ceremony, costs to restore this classic ride and bring it back to the Wildwood Boardwalk were too high for Morey’s Piers and the demand for modern day rides just didn't make it feasible.  Then back in January of 2009, it was confirmed by Amusement Today that Knoebels Amusement Park had indeed purchased The Golden Nugget's track and trains and were soon to be removed from the location that stood as an icon to the Wildwood, NJ boardwalk since the early ’60s.

The Golden Nugget ride was built on the Wildwood Boardwalk’s Hunt’s Pier on the newly constructed ocean side of the pier and originally opened in July of 1960 as a three-story rollercoaster / dark ride.  The ride was engineered by John Allen and constructed by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.  The original theme was designed by Bill Tracy and Amusement Displays.  The runaway gold mine car featured scenes of a Cowboy and Indian western frontier that included gold panning prospectors, the Boothill Graveyard, a covered wagon, cactuses and more from the old west.  The rider is then plunged down a mine shaft into the depths of a gold mine where you were greeted by skeletons, old miners, collapsing mineshafts, dark creatures and an array of special effects simulating a dangerous old mine. In 1996, the ride was then re-themed under the name Golden Nugget Mine Rescue and featured Dinosaurs.  Over its 34 year operation, The Golden Nugget took an estimated 1.7 million people on a runaway mine car mining adventure until it was shut down in 1999.  Then for 10 years the ride sat to the mercy of the elements  and as merely a backdrop to other rides; a reminder of days gone by.  Plans for a new roller coaster on Morey's Pier put it right over the location of The Golden Nugget and a demolition date of January 31st 2010 was set.  Then when fans of The Golden Nugget Mine Ride learned that the cars and tracks had been purchased by the family-owned and operated Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pa., excitement spread about what this meant for the beloved ride.  Knoebels is well known for purchasing old classic amusement park rides, moving and resurrecting them. A prime example of that fact is the The Phoenix Roller Coaster, formerly known as the 1947 "Rocket" from San Antonio, Texas.

Recent conversations with Knoebels employees revealed some interesting concepts being considered by Knoebels and the former Golden Nugget roller coaster/dark ride.  Knoebels is located in the history rich coal regions of Pennsylvania and has demonstrated a love for preserving history.  At the corner of the park, Knoebels has the Anthracite Mining Museum that details and displays many many stories, artifacts and history of the area.  Next to the Anthracite Mining Museum is the Bald Eagles Exhibit displaying two beautiful bald eagles named Henry and Hattie.  Rumors are that this Bald Eagles Exhibit is to be moved a short distance leaving the location next to the Anthracite Mining Museum open.  This location its been said is to be the spot for the new creation that Knoebels will build from the tracks and cars of the former Golden Nugget only in a different format over what it used to be.  According Amusement Today, Knoebels is not going to rebuild the original Golden Nugget the same as it was.  The Golden Nugget ride as it used to be when in Wildwood NJ for decades, was a Gold Mine ride, taking guests on a wild ride through dark gold mine shafts and along tracks that took it on a mix of outside and inside tracks in mine cars with mine dangers around each corner.  Its unclear as to how the new configuration will look but it has been said that it will fit the region in the form of a coal mine theme.  A perfect theme for this once popular ride, even bearing the rumored name Black Diamond!  IF what we've heard is true, the ride will be built right next to the Anthracite Mining Museum as well as several pieces of mining industry machines including an old steam engine.

Joe Muscato of Knoebels had stated in an official announcement earlier this year that there was no immediate plans to install the ride at Knoebels and that they had not finalized a location, design or concept.  He also stated that they do not plan to reproduce the ride as it was a Morey's Pier, which was confirmed by our conversation with an employee of Knoebels.

If these rumors are true, we very excited to see this old classic ride resurrected among the tree of Knoebels even if it is different than the original.  A ride that many of us had ridden during our vacations at the Jersey shore.  Thank you once again Knoebels for preserving a rich history of amusement park rides!

Links:

http://www.darkinthepark.com/Wildwood/wildwoodgn.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/nj/wwbysea/HUNT/goldennugget.html

http://www.funchase.com/Images/GoldenNugget/GoldenNugget.htm