August 2024

By | July 24, 2024

The AUGUST 2024 issue includes:

  • Bobcat coaster roars in Six Flags Great Escape
  • SeaWorld’s new Penguin Trek thrills, educates
  • Thorpe Park, Mack Rides debut Hyperia
  • Six Flags Great America opens Zamperla’s Discovery Giga 40
  • Dinosaurs headline Six Flags Over Texas’ new, returning attractions
  • Landry’s Kemah Boardwalk maintains, upgrades Boardwalk Bullet
  • Properly trained FEC staff making all the difference
  • Strates Shows is brings back rail travel for 2024 season
  • Iowa State Fair’s Sky Glider celebrates half-century 
  • Silverwood’s Boulder Beach debuts Emerald Forest
  • Disney, Florida Governor reach agreement
  • Snackville at Pacific Park providing guests with new, exciting foods
  • Cedar Fair, Six Flags merger completed
  • East Coast parks light up season with rides, events, promotions
  • Focus on the Horizon: Haley Knoebel of Premier Rides
  • Sandcastle adds colors, sights and sounds for the 2024 season
  • Deadlines approaching to attend 2024’s GTA event
  • Inspections at CocoCay hold intriguing challenges for Safe Slide
  • Busch Gardens’s Loch Ness Monster resurfaces after restoration
  • Gravity Group, Texas Skilled Carpentry refurbish Funtown’s Excalibur
  • 2024 World’s Largest Swimming Lesson draws thousands
  • Europa-Park rebuilds bigger, better revamped Austria … and much more!

All-female classic Universal Monsters headline all-original Halloween Horror Nights haunted house, “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines,” at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort

By | July 26, 2024

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. and ORLANDO, Fla. — Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights debuts the all-original haunted house, “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines,” headlined by an all-female assemblage of classic Universal Monsters – The Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula’s Daughter, She-Wolf of London and the undead, mummified Egyptian princess Anck-Su-Namun–beginning Friday, August 30 at Universal Orlando Resort and on Thursday, September 5 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines” haunted houses will introduce guests to an all-new terrifying storyline, as they find themselves in the center of the ultimate battle between two unexpected alliances of classic female Universal Monsters. Fans will encounter Saskia Van Helsing, a new fearless huntress and daughter of revered Abraham Van Helsing – who killed Count Dracula by driving a stake through his heart and destroying his reign of terror. Saskia now faces Dracula’s daughter, Countess Marya, who arose from the dead to seek revenge for her father and destroy the Van Helsing bloodline. With a mission to kill, Dracula’s daughter, from 1936’s Dracula’s Daughter, forms a deadly alliance with the She-Wolf, inspired by the 1946 film She-Wolf of London, and Anck-Su-Namun, from the 1932 film The Mummy – only to be intercepted by Saskia and an unlikely ally, The Bride of Frankenstein. The terrifying adventure will take guests on a journey between the hunted and the hunters in a life and death battle with only one bloodline left to survive. 

As the movie studio that invented the horror film genre, this haunted house at Universal Studios Hollywood will have even more relevance as it will reside within legendary Sound Stage 12 on the studio back lot, the original filming location for such Universal horror movies as Dracula  (1931), Frankenstein (1931) and The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), among others revered classic and contemporary films.

The return of the Universal Classic Monsters haunted house also reunites GRAMMY® Award-winning musician SLASH with Universal Studios Hollywood in a collaboration that spans six seasons of Halloween Horror Nights. Once again, SLASH will compose an original score for this all-new haunted house, and the score will be featured along with his past original compositions on a limited-edition vinyl album that will be sold at Universal Studios Hollywood throughout the run of the event.

At Universal Orlando Resort, Emmy®-nominated composer Sara Barone will create an original score for this all-new haunted house to elevate the experience for guests. She recently served as composer for BBC’s “Planet Earth III,” along with Hans Zimmer and Jacob Shea, and Amazon’s “Silver and the Book of Dreams.” Barone currently participates in the Universal Composers Initiative. Led by the Studio’s Film Music team and Universal Talent Development & Inclusion, this two-year program provides composers with unparalleled access to the studio process, in addition to exclusive scoring opportunities such as this year’s Halloween Horror Nights.

A variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options for Universal Studios Hollywood are now available, including General Admission with savings up to $40 on select nights when purchased online, Universal ExpressAfter 2 P.M. Day/Night, the Early Access Ticket,which provides access to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m. (subject to change), in advance of the scheduled 7:00 p.m. event opening time, the premium R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again.

Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. receives certification to ISO 9001:2015 standards

By | July 25, 2024

Performance Review Institute (PRI) Registrar recognizes Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. for having met the stringent requirements of ISO 9001:2015 international standards, their ongoing commitment to satisfying stakeholders, and their dedication to continual improvement of their management system.

Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. announces that it has received certification to ISO 9001:2015 Standards.

“As a company, we value Excellence, Innovation, and Integrity as a means of delivering the best products to our customers in the best time. Becoming certified to the ISO 9001:2015 standards is a result of the commitment of our entire team to these values,” said Seth Alberts, President and CEO – Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. “We are proud to receive this certification and will continue to exceed quality standards for our customers.“

“Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. has demonstrated its commitment to world class quality management by implementing and becoming certified to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. They have joined an elite number of organizations worldwide who have achieved certification to this globally recognized quality  standard,” said Randy Daugharthy, Vice President – Registrar at the Performance Review Institute Registrar. “PRI Registrar is proud to partner with Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. in this accomplishment and look forward to continued support of their objective of quality excellence.”

The Ralph S. Alberts Co., located in Montoursville, PA, is registered as a Single Site management system, demonstrated in conformance with ISO 9001:2015 international standards. Their Scope of Registration includes: Manufacturer of custom products that specializes in tooling fabrication and various production methods including injection molding, hand casting, polyurethane foam molding, EVA injection molding, and fiberglass reinforced plastics.

The ‘Ghost Castle’ returns to Europa-Park with a new theming as ‘Castello dei Medici’

By | July 25, 2024

Things get spooky once more! The ‘Ghost Castle’ in Germany’s largest theme park, a true classic in the Italian themed area, is finally opening its doors again! The popular family attraction, which first opened in 1982, has not lost its charm, but has been completely redesigned.

Ann-Kathrin Mack, Partner at Europa-Park and responsible for MACK Solutions: ‘Many of us, including myself, loved the Ghost Castle when we were young and we want future generations to be able to experience this joy too. The new theming ensures that the ride is exciting but not too scary, but it can still be a little test of courage – just like it have been in the past.’’

Visitors are transported through the palace in small gondolas as ghostly voices can be heard and eerie figures can be seen everywhere. They can look forward to familiar scenes as well as new spooky fun. In addition, Lorenzo is now up to mischief, his story based on the historical figure of the early Italian Renaissance ‘Lorenzo de’ Medici’.

The attraction tells the story of the rise of Lorenzo, which comes to an abruptly stop thanks to the treacherous Pazzi family. Lorenzo is after revenge and comes into possession of an old stone tablet with strange symbols and meaningful writings. The text, written in an unknown Latin language, promises eternal life to anyone who follows its instructions. Lorenzo dedicates his entire life to pursuing this plan. During the four-minute dark ride, guests find out what he experiences and whether he will ultimately manage to escape death. MACK Solutions is responsible for the storytelling, which features impressive special effects, projections and illustrations.

Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark welcomes new hires, forms executive committee

By | July 25, 2024

OKLAHOMA CITY — OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark (OKANA) announces the hiring of nine new leadership team members for the $400 million project along the Oklahoma River near downtown Oklahoma City. These new leadership team hires will join OKANA’s Managing Director, Ken Leone, on the resort’s newly created executive committee.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to growth and excellence, we have strategically expanded our team with individuals who possess diverse skill sets and share a passion for our values,” said Ken Leone, OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark managing director. “There are a significant number of pre-opening and operational milestones to hit when opening a resort property of the scale and size of OKANA. This executive committee will be laser focused on those milestones for each of their departments to ensure we deliver unmatched experiences for our guests.”

The ten-person executive committee brings more than 124 years of hospitality industry experience and will be headed by Leone.

Ken Leone, Managing Director:
Leone most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for SafeHarbor Development Group, developing and operating several Margaritaville resorts in Tennessee. Previously, he held executive roles with Delaware North and Larkspur Hotels & Restaurants, earning numerous awards including General Manager of the Year.

Erling Acosta, Resort General Manager:
Acosta has more than two decades of hospitality experience with a proven track record in driving guest satisfaction, enhancing operational efficiencies, and fostering team development.  His previous role was as Resort Assistant General Manager for Kalahari Resorts and Conventions where he oversaw all operation and administrative functions of the resort.

Genaro Blanco, Director of Revenue Management:
Blanco brings more than a decade of hospitality experience, previously serving as the Regional Director of Revenue Management at Karisma Hotels and Resorts. He has led successful initiatives on execution, and measurement of strategies and tactics designed to maximize revenue, market share, and profitability at notable brands throughout the U.S. and Caribbean such as Nickelodeon, El Dorado, Melia, and Iberostar.

Michael Drayton, Director of Strategy & Analytics:
Drayton previously served as the Director of Customer Experience for Parks Mfg. LLC. Prior to that, he served as manager for the Financial & Operational Analytics teams at Sonic Corp. and the Chickasaw Nation’s Department of Commerce. He has more than a decade of experience in financial planning, data analytics, strategic planning, revenue optimization, and market research, and has implemented initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and departmental collaboration in his previous roles.

Scott Goldberg, Director of Food & Beverage:
Goldberg is a forward-thinking executive leader with a comprehensive background in all aspects of food and beverage operations. He is skilled in planning, coordinating, and executing initiatives in high volume environments. Goldberg joins OKANA from Boyd Gaming in Missouri where he led the team responsible for all food and beverage operations for a large casino resort and spa.

Sabra Millage, Director of Finance:
Millage has extensive experience in financial management, reporting, and team leadership, with a proven track record of improving profitability and ensuring compliance in the hospitality industry. Recognized for her ability to enhance productivity and streamline processes, Millage has received multiple awards for profit and revenue growth.

Talya Regan, Senior Director of Marketing:
Regan has more than a decade of strategic planning, marketing, and public relations experience in the hospitality industry. She joins OKANA from Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark and will be focused on implementing innovative strategies to drive resort growth through a fully integrated marketing strategy and public relations efforts.

Juan Ruiz, Director of Engineering:

Ruiz has more than two decades, with 23 years with Marriot International, of experience in facilities maintenance and operations, and has led engineering teams at Swexan Hotel, JW Marriott Houston, and Hyatt Richardson North Dallas. He excels in managing maintenance operations, complex equipment repairs, budgeting, and energy conservation.

Sonia Saenz, Director of Human Resources:
Saenz brings extensive national and international recruitment, employer branding, and community relations experience. Bilingual in Spanish, she has held key HR leadership roles in prestigious organizations, fostering positive organizational cultures, and driving growth. She has participated in other openings including Bellagio Spa Tower in 2004.

Brian Szydloski, Waterpark General Manager:
Szydloski is an expert in waterpark operations with more than a decade of experience, having contributed to prominent waterparks across the United States. As the former Waterpark Director at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock, Texas, he managed America’s largest indoor waterpark resort, overseeing a staff of 450 and an annual attendance of 500,000+ guests.

OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark is on track to open in Spring 2025.

Dollywood’s Public Employees Appreciation Days return July 29-Sept. 15

By | July 25, 2024

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — As a thank you to our military, first responders, teachers and more who work tirelessly every day to serve our country and communities, Dollywood’s Public Employees Appreciation Days returns in 2024 and provides qualifying guests the opportunity to buy a one-day Dollywood admission ticket online for just $45 plus tax.

The exclusive offer can be purchased online at Dollywood.com/PublicEmployee for a limited time and is valid for use July 29- Sept. 15. Members of the military, first responders, school system employees, government employees and medical employees who have verified their employment status through ID.me are eligible for the offer. Verified public employees may purchase up to six $45 one-day admission tickets to Dollywood Theme Park as part of the program. Additionally, they can receive rates starting at $119 per night at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa or at Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort on select nights. The resort discount is available July 29-Sept. 15, subject to availability.

Any of the admission tickets that are part of the Public Employees Appreciation Days may be upgraded to season passes, allowing guests to continue the fun of Dollywood’s 2024 season. Guests currently can enjoy Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City through Aug. 11. Extended park operating hours, a nightly drone show and family-fun entertainment make Dollywood a must-visit destination for families this summer.

Later this year, guests can enjoy one of the nation’s top fall events, the Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 9- Oct. 28). The event has quickly become a guest-favorite thanks to thousands of glowing pumpkins that make up Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. Dollywood guests also can enjoy the spectacular artistry of visiting crafters from across the country or sample the special harvest-themed food items from Dollywood’s award-winning culinary team. Each day is a picture-perfect opportunity for families to enjoy the experiences of a Smoky Mountain harvest.

With festive fun and more than six million lights, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 1- Jan. 5, 2024) has earned its recognition as America’s favorite theme park Christmas event. Smoky Mountain Christmas helps families create memories to share for a lifetime. Guests also can enjoy Dollywood’s signature rides and attractions that operate in this merry environment. With award-winning shows and elaborate holiday decorations to twinkling lights and Christmas-themed menus, Dollywood truly captures the essence of Christmas. 

Guests also can enjoy The Dolly Parton Experience which features a number of interactive elements to make guests feel as if they were alongside Dolly as she journeyed from Locust Ridge to stages around the world. The entire Adventures in Imagination area was completely transformed to create The Dolly Parton Experience. Guests can peruse exhibits which span her unparalleled career and include a look at the inspiration behind and the results of her biggest dreams, detail the importance of her family, and highlight many of Dolly’s signature styles through the years. 

SeaWorld Orlando unleashes more horror as Howl-O-Scream nears

By | July 24, 2024

ORLANDO — SeaWorld Orlando’s hair-raising Halloween Howl-O-Scream event is preparing to re-emerge, promising a more terrifying experience than ever. This year’s event features five bone-chilling houses – four of them new, seven scare zones – three of them new, five interactive bars and two spectacular shows, plus several all-new attractions creeping into the event line-up. Howl-O-Scream taunts guests with a nightmarish adventure where the deepest fears come to life and new horrors emerge from the shadows, lurking around every corner, ready to haunt every step.

Guests can save up to 70% on Howl-O-Scream tickets now and for a limited time during the Sinister Sale, running until July 28. Tickets start at $32.99, offering a terrifyingly good deal for a night full of fantastic frights.

SeaWorld Orlando has provided a peak at what’s new for Howl-O-Scream this year, including a new haunted house “Farm 51,” where guests will harvest their fears as they navigate through fields of terror, as well as a new scare zone “Seeds of the Coven,” a forest where witches’ curses are sown and harvested. Still to come are details on three new houses, two more scare zones and two new bars.

Returning favorites include the haunted house “Deleri1um666,” and the scare zones “Blood Light District,” “Toxic Turmoil,” “Terrors of the Deep” and “Carnevil Pier.” Guests can also revisit the bars “Tormented,” “Carnevil Curiosities” and “Longshoremen’s Tavern.” Also returning are fan-favorite performances, “Monster Stomp” and “Siren’s Last Call.”

Guests can elevate their night of frights by experiencing SeaWorld Orlando’s roller coasters at night. Ride with ghosts on Mako, Manta, Ice Breaker and Pipeline for bone-chilling thrills all evening.

Flyover in Chicago takes off with help from FLUX:: SPAT Revolution and JBL Professional

By | July 24, 2024

CHICAGO — At its Spring 2024 opening, Flyover in Chicago became the newest of Flyover Attractions’ immersive indoor flying rides, joining existing installations in Las Vegas; Vancouver, Canada; and Reykjavik, Iceland, that transports guests to the planet’s most epic places through exhilarating flying journeys.

Located within Chicago’s landmark waterfront Navy Pier, the multi-sensory experience, which incorporates leading drone technologies along with impressive aerial shots and first-person narratives, showcases the city from perspectives never seen before. Flyover’s signature Chicago journey is shown on an impressive 65-foot spherical screen with flight motion seats engineered to swoop, dip and turn, giving guests the feeling of flight. The attraction transports 61 guests at a time, with complete sensory immersion using wind, mist and scents, as fliers hang suspended.

The breathtaking ride employs a massive number of audio sources, which are controlled and dynamically spatialized by the advanced audio object and Wave Field Synthesis features of FLUX:: SPAT Revolution immersive audio software, then played through a highly customized system of JBL loudspeakers in a nearly spherical configuration. The FLUX:: software and JBL Professional loudspeakers are supplemented with Crown amplifiers, BSS loudspeaker processing, and control systems from HARMAN Professional, who also supplied extensive support and expertise to the project.

Designing and building an attraction like Flyover is a highly complex undertaking, so the thrilling sonic world of Flyover Chicago is the work of a team of experts from several companies working closely together.

Immersive Entertainment
An extensive presentation occurs primarily in its own immersive theatre, which features a 10-foot diameter, circular “lollipop” screen in the center (serving guests on both sides), plus an elliptical screen wrapping 360 degrees around the audience. Sound designer/mixer Tim Archer of Masters Digital programmed SPAT Revolution to control the soundtrack, which plays through a system designed by Wels, Austria-based Kraftwerk Living Technologies (KLT), who also designed the main flight ride audio system.

Speakers are placed behind the perforated screens, with each side of the venue featuring the same speaker configuration: eight JBL COL800 column loudspeakers inside the lollipop facing out (for a total of 16 cabinets), and six JBL AC18/26 compact two-way loudspeakers behind the wraparound screen (for a total of 12). Low-frequency support is provided by four ceiling-mounted JBL ASB6115 subwoofers.

Crucially, these are not arrays in which every loudspeaker receives the same signal; SPAT Revolution sends a discrete signal to each loudspeaker in order to implement Wave Field Synthesis and other reproduction techniques. Still, a source such as dialogue may need a large contribution of speakers for coverage or perceived sound size reasons, a situation which can create its own problems.

“When you’ve got eight speakers that are not in a simple array and all are receiving the same content, how do you get away with not having comb filtering?” asks Archer. “The answer is that you run the signal through SPAT. I pop one track of dialogue into SPAT and WFS spreads it across the eight columns. And you can be almost around the side of the lollipop before you lose the character of the sound; it’s extremely wide. WFS is killer. It’s a game changer.”

A ring of 10 more AC18/26s mounted above the audience (five on each side of the room) acts as the primary source for presenting the music from composer Elliott Wheeler.

The Main Flight Ride
For the flight ride, guests are seated on one of three separate moving platforms which are vertically “stacked” in the room. Presenting realistic, well-balanced sound to every guest was the biggest challenge facing both Archer and KLT’s Philipp Hartl, responsible for Sales/Lead Audio System Design & Optimisation.

“There are three platforms, and that’s critical. We’re talking about people above, in the middle, and below,” reveals Archer. “That is probably the main thing that makes this mix so unique: traditionally, we are all based in the idea that the person mixing is on the same plane as the rest of the audience. You normally don’t have people located on three different planes.

“But at Flyover Chicago you do, so the guests are having three different experiences. Since everybody doesn’t have the same visual perspective, they should not get the same audio perspective.”

Complicating things further was the sheer number of moving elements, which defined a massive mix process. “I am sitting down with just over a thousand tracks, about six hundred for music and about four hundred and change for sound effects,” Archer reports. Handling this tremendous load required SPAT Revolution to work side-by-side with a second immersive audio system from Encircled Audio.

With the platforms in constant motion, object audio was the only way to place a source and have each person hear it properly. Two guests viewing the same visual element from different platforms need separate mixes that accurately localize the sound for their positions, while the platforms continue to move. Traditional multichannel mixes simply cannot accomplish this. For this reason, localization in SPAT Revolution is not viewed in terms of routing sounds into loudspeakers, but, rather, sending them to “pan points” or virtual speakers to synthesize artificial wavefronts.

What’s more, some musical events relate to visual elements, necessitating moving music sources through space, too. “I’ve got a trumpet player on top of the Wrigley Building, and when the camera flies by him, his trumpet sound has got to whip past us,” Archer details. “Every single thing in the mix moves.” To facilitate this, composer Wheeler and his engineer went to the trouble to deliver the music to Archer already in the form of a SPAT Revolution session.

In his sound system design, Hartl faced the same issue of trying to supply sound appropriately to three continuously moving platforms. “As a practical matter, it’s not possible to achieve the exact same coverage at every seat on each platform,” Hartl explains, “so one of the really tricky things was to find a middle way to tune the speakers that minimized the amount of compromise made at any individual seat.”

Hartl used 34 JBL AM7215-series high power two-way loudspeakers, deployed in four different vertical layers, plus four JBL ASB7128 dual 18-inch subwoofers to furnish prodigious amounts of low-frequency effects. As in the pre-show theatre, SPAT Revolution rendered a different signal feed for each loudspeaker. To ensure clear rear localization, a pair of JBL Control 23-1 ultracompact speakers is mounted on each seat back.

Once the content was generated and the system tuned, the presentation was implemented in a show control system for playback by Miami-based Smart Monkeys.

Teamwork is Key
Bringing such an immensely complex project to a successful conclusion involves plenty of tweaking and problem-solving. As a central contributor to the project, HARMAN gave close support to all the teams involved, with Flux’s Hugo Larin being particularly deeply involved in the design and programming of the immersive audio. “Hugo’s involvement was what got the show across the line,” compliments Eric Sambell, Flyover’s Global Director of Construction and Entertainment. “He was knowledgeable and really jumped in, even with issues that weren’t directly involved with SPAT, like some aspects of design and workflow. It was a really great value-add.”

Teams from Flyover and all of the vendors reported tremendous cooperation and support from all parties, which made a difficult, stressful project actually fun. “It was great to see the different companies work together and not against each other, which was the case at Flyover,” enthuses Hartl. ”We learned from each other, and that was the best thing which could have happened there.”

Archer was just as impressed. “The spirit of collaboration started right with the management of Flyover, who assembled teams of people that could and would work together.”

In the end, of course, the effort is not about the sophisticated systems or even the teams, but providing the guests an amazing experience, as Sambell highlights. “The technology has to be so good that it disappears, like it isn’t even there, so that guests enjoy a seamless experience from the moment they walk in the door to when they walk out afterwards,” he asserts. “We don’t want guests thinking about the technology or where they are, we just want them to be present in what’s happening.”

BDR Design Group: A “simply amazing” chapter ends

By | July 24, 2024

As we close the final chapter of BDR Design Group, we celebrate over 40 years of creativity, innovation, and unparalleled success. It has been an extraordinary journey, bringing to life entertainment destinations that have delighted and inspired millions around the world.

Our success has been fueled by the incredible talents and dedication of our team. Together, we have designed unforgettable experiences, each project a testament to our shared vision and passion. We are immensely proud of the legacy we leave behind, one built on creativity, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Bruce D. Robinson, our founder and President, has been the heart and soul of BDR Design Group. His vision and leadership have shaped our path and inspired us all. 

Effective September 30th, Bruce will be retiring to embrace more precious moments with his family, and BDR Design Group will be closing the doors on its traditional design practice. Bruce will continue to share his expertise, consulting on unique projects, serving long term clients, and supporting former teammates in their future endeavors.

As we reflect on our achievements, we are filled with gratitude for the friendships, partnerships, and memories we have forged. The spirit of BDR Design Group will live on in the extraordinary projects we have created and in the hearts of those who have been part of our journey.

Thank you to all of the wonderful people that have been a part of our lives over the years and for being a part of our story. Here’s to the future, filled with new adventures and endless possibilities.

Jack Morey 1960-2024

By | July 23, 2024

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Jack Morey, the creative force behind Morey’s Piers for the past three decades.  Jack wasn’t particularly fond of titles, but was the Company’s Executive Vice President, Chief Creative Officer, and, most importantly, champion of “it will be beautiful…we change everything.”

Jack’s life is a testament to his passion, creativity, and unwavering love of the beauty of people, experiences, and life…which he often insisted on viewing upside down via an impromptu handstand..

Although known for his eccentric and gregarious persona, Jack would often dive deeply and quickly into conversations.  Not one to recognize conventional boundaries, a favorite Jack question upon meeting someone was, “What do you love?”  A question which he was genuinely curious about, which presumably left the unguarded recipient pondering the meaning of life a little more deeply than moments prior.

Jack was long fascinated with people, design, and public spaces from all around the world, and spent his life and career working to bring his incredible and innate creativity to life. If you’ve visited Wildwood, you’ve been touched by Jack’s vision.  The Rio Grande Avenue Gateway, the iconic “Wildwoods” sign, the Wildwood Dog Park and Beach, the Socratic Outdoor Learning Center, the Doo-Wop style architecture, Starlux Mini Golf, and his latest project the Big Little 9 Golf Course are just a few, and of course, Morey’s Piers and Resorts, all bear Jack’s unique vision.  He drew inspiration from the most unlikely places and poured his passion for beauty, art, and human interaction into everything in which he was involved. Jack adored the Wildwoods, often describing it as – “not a place for everybody, but it is a place for anybody,” and in answering the question of what’s your favorite project, there was no hesitation, simply – “the next one, but first we much fall in love.”

Jack saw the world in a way few others do, often combining elements which logically shouldn’t work together…but did. Not one for meetings, committees, or offices (and reported to have declared in jest that budgets were for wimps), he was most often found in the field either dreaming, designing, or clearing the way for his next vision.  Jack’s perspective and passion are inspirations that, while irreplaceable, we will strive to follow as we continue with his personal quest to make Morey’s Piers the “Greatest Seaside Park in the World.”

While Jack loved his job, his true passion in life was his family. He loved his Bride of 36 years, Karen, and his two children, Zack (Morgan) and Jordan (Alyssa), and the many dog companions he had throughout his life, presently Hobbes, Finley, and Frankie. When his grandchildren (Jack, Miller, and Nora) were born, he was the first to jump to the ground to teach them to crawl, spending almost as much time on the ground as the newborns.  

We will draw inspiration from Jack’s constant intrigue and inspiration from the world around him and, in turn, his love of life, people, and creativity. For all of this, we, and anyone who spent time with Jack, are forever grateful.

Services will be held on Monday, July 29 at Assumption Church located at 7100 Seaview Ave in Wildwood Crest.  The Gathering will be from 10 AM – 1 PM, with services immediately to follow.