Ocean City Boardwalk History

OCNJ built their first boardwalk in 1898. In 1903 it was extended to more than a quarter of a mile long. It was 42 feet wide in some places and 70 feet wide in others. In 1910, OCMD completed their permanent boardwalk that was about five blocks long. In the 1920s it was expanded to 15th Street. A storm destroyed it in March of 1962, and it was later rebuilt to its current length of two and a half miles, running from the inlet at the south end to 27th Street.

In OCNJ the Flanders Hotel on the Boardwalk is one of the oldest. It was restored in the 1990s. The Homestead Hotel, built in 1928 is also considered an historic landmark. In OCMD the Atlantic Hotel was one of the first, built on a fifty-acre property that was purchased in 1874. It burned down in December 1925 and was rebuilt to the structure that is in place today. The Lankford Hotel has been there since 1923 and the Commander Hotel since 1929. While the Commander has been rebuilt, the Lankford has been preserved.

Both Ocean City locations offer a variety of amusements and points of interest. OCNJ boasts a music pier that has been in existence since 1905. Two theaters have been on the Boardwalk since the early 1900s for vaudeville acts, then silent films. The Strand and the Moorlyn are still there today with modern equipment for today's movies. OCMD's Life-Saving Station was built in 1878, added to in 1890 and moved to its present location at the inlet and the Boardwalk in 1977 where it is now a museum. Trimper's Amusement Park has a carousel that has been in continuous use since 1912.

The 118-foot long OCNJ Municiple Music Pier (1905) hosted free concerts every day. A tower was built on top of the Music Pier during World War II for observation of airplanes. The Music Pier was renovated during the 1990s. The first OCMD pier building was constructed in 1907. At that time is was the home of a skating rink, dancing pavilion, pool room, bowling alleys and refreshment vendors. The current building, which is in the same location, was built around 1926.

Early morning bicycling on the boardwalks was popular as early as the 1930s. In addition to bicycling, the boardwalks in both cities currently offer transportation for visitors. Ocean City, New Jersey offers surrey cart rides to carry people to their destination. Ocean City, Maryland has trains that run the length of the Boardwalk and makes stops along the way as needed.

Originally founded as a religious campground, OCNJ has never permitted alcohol to be sold or consumed within its city limits. Both cities offer much to do on a family vacation. Besides swimming and sunbathing, they have miniature golf, amusement parks, water parks, boat rides and cruises, jet skiing, parasailing, surfing, shopping and restaurants.