purchased the land to use for city government facilities.Ĭheck out this great article from the Jissue of Oceana Magazine. The true story of how Ocean Playland came to be, including a list of the park's rides which mentions a '(Tracy) Dark Ride.' Seems like quite a deal for an afternoon of fun, even for the summer of 1975!Īrticle from Salisbury Times from Apwhen a permit for the park was being sought.

Tracy's Ghost Ship façade can be seen in the left of this photo.įound on the back of a 1966 real estate booklet.Īn ad from the Salisbury Times from June of 1966.Īn ad from an Ocean City visitors guide from 1969. Ocean Playland offered free admission and a pay-one-price riding system.Īn advertisement from The Resorter showing a view of Ocean Playland.Ocean Playland operated as a concessionaire parkbusinessmen and women would come from all over to set up their equipment and pay a percentage of their earnings to the park as a concession.

Originally, the figure was painted to resemble a pirate, but in later years, it was changed to resemble a clown thanks to some new paint and a hat. The large pirate that stood at Ocean Playlands entrance was built by the International Fiberglass Company and is similar to the one at the entrance of Jolly Roger Amusement Park.Ocean Playland, as the park was originally named, was later re-branded as simply Playland..Granville was able to purchase the rides contents, including the cars and track, for a later expansion of The Haunted House. Although the park closed in 1981, this attraction, unlike the others, would live on in Ocean City for decades to come thanks to a high bid and a vision from Granville Trimper. The most significant attraction in Ocean Playland, as far as dark rides were concerned, was Ghost Ship, built by Bill Tracy from Universal Design Limited. Unlike many of its competitors, Playland offered a plethora of unique attractions including a complete monorail, a full wooden coaster called the Hurricane, a miniature golf course, and over 25 amusement attractions of all types and for all ages. Tracy's Ghost Ship can be seen in the upper left of this photo.Īn aerial view of Ocean Playland looking east.Īn aerial view of Ocean Playland taken in 1965.Īn aerial view of Ocean Playland taken around 1970.Ī view of Ocean Playland at night looking toward the miniature golf course and their wooden coaster, The Hurricane. A view of Ocean Playland during the construction phase.

Pirate ship in ocean city md