Ocean City developer hopes to turn shuttered Wonderland Pier into 252-room hotel

it was one of the most popular amusement parks at the Jersey Shore but Gillian's Wonderland pier in Ocean City closed down for good last month after almost a century in operation well tonight there's word that it could make a comeback but as a different type of Attraction for tourists ACs of puera Caroline gagen has more from Ocean City Gillian's Wonderland Pier closed last month after 94 years in business but now there is a plan to reimagine this space the developer tells me that his plan will not only Revitalize the boardwalk but will also Revitalize tourism here in Ocean City it would be called Icona in Wonderland a hotel and resort built on the site of the shuttered Gillian Wonderland Pier we haven't had a new hotel in over half a century and for America's greatest family resort uh I think that's a a hurdle that we've got to get over eustus MAA the owner of Icona Resorts bought the Gillian's property back in 2021 now he is looking to build a 250 52 room Hotel and Resort on that site he says the brand new project would preserve the iconic Carousel and the ferris wheel we will rehab it and we're going to keep it and actually raise it by 10 feet the entire plan estimated to cost between 135 and $155 million if approved they would break round in the first or second quarter of next year and hope to be done within two years time we're hoping for a much better answer this this is a this is a terrible answer Bill Meritt is the president of the friends of Ocean City New Jersey history and culture organization he's worried this proposed Hotel takes away a spot that was dedicated to Children he's also concerned about the impact on surrounding neighborhoods the product that they're putting out there is the absolute wrong product for that space Merritt believes people who stay at the hotel won't actually utilize the boardwalk he's hoping city leaders will consider other proposals MAA who already operates eight hotels along the Jersey Shore believes this is the right plan so we will be open 365 days we've proved our model Works M shared his plan with the boardwalk Merchants Association earlier today he's now looking for their approval plus approval from the city council Planning and Zoning as well as the D before his proposal can move forward in Ocean City New Jersey I'm Caroline Goin Channel 6 Action News