Playland's Castaway Cove in Ocean City, New Jersey reopens Saturday

6abc Digital Staff Image
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Playland's Castaway Cove in Ocean City, NJ to reopen Saturday
Ocean City summer staple Playland's Castaway Cove will be coming back online Saturday after a devastating fire two months ago.

OCEAN CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- Now that the temperatures are rising, visitors are breathing a little more life into the Ocean City boardwalk in New Jersey.

Starting Saturday, Ocean City summer staple Playland's Castaway Cove will be coming back online after a devastating fire two months ago.

Chopper 6 was over the Ocean City Boardwalk following a 4-alarm fire.

"The only difference that people are going to notice is you're not going to be able to enter through the arcade entrance. You're going to have to use the secondary entrance, which is in the middle of 10th and 11th streets," said Brian Harley, vice president of Castaway Cove.

Hartley explained to 6abc that the only area that sustained fire damaged included the arcade, electric room, and office building.

Twenty-two of the 32 rides will be up and running, though the park will operate at 50% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The popular Ocean City, New Jersey boardwalk attraction will open for the first time since a major fire in January.

"Judging just by the amount of emails and phone calls, people are ready to get outside," said Hartley.

Neighboring business operators say they hope that translates to more revenue.

"I'm definitely feeling a lot better than I did a year ago," said Jody Levchuck, director of operations for Jilly's Candy Factory. "I can assure you that it has been picking up. People have been walking the boardwalk, checking out Ocean City, walking the beach."