It all started with a giant fiberglass slide, back in 1969.
For the price of $345,000, brothers Wilbert and Bill Morey purchased oceanfront land off the Boardwalk at 26th Avenue, and installed their first ride on a narrow wooden pier, based on an attraction Bill had seen near Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The Wipeout! was an instant hit and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Morey Brothers, highly successful developers, suddenly found themselves in the amusement business. Within just a few years, they would expand Surfside Pier, adding several state-of-the-art attractions, including industry-sought after European imports.
Today, second generation partners Will and Jack Morey preside over not just one of the premier seaside amusement parks in the world, but one of the largest family-owned amusement operations of any kind.
When Surfside Pier opens at noon today, it will mark the beginning of its 50th season of operation.
The pier as it exists today - with popular attractions such as the Great Nor'Easter, Zoom Phloom, AtmosFEAR, KONG and "it" - simply could not have been imagined at the time of its humble beginnings in the late-1960's.
Surfside joins Mariner's Pier in operation on weekends. Adventure Pier will open for the season next weekend.
Mariner's will go to an everyday summer schedule starting June 1. Adventure Pier and Surfside Pier will begin everyday operations beginning June 8 and June 9, respectively.
For the the full schedule of hours, see: www.moreyspiers.com/info/park-hours
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