Ocean City, Maryland, has its fair share of time-honored traditions, some of which have been pegged as rites of passage through the ages. But the reality is that nothing lasts forever, not even those mainstays that feel like they’ve always been and always will be. From the decided closing of attractions in light of safety concerns to irreparable damage, business retirement plans, to rezoning and revitalizations, there are several reasons why a once-popular experience may eventually disappear from the forefront of Ocean City’s must-do endeavors. Here are a few now-extinct experiences that were Ocean City rites of passage not so long ago.
Swimming in the Saltwater Swimming Pool
While not uncommon today for Boardwalk resorts to feature onsite swimming pools for guest use, the concept was novel during the first part of the 20th century. John Dale Showell, Jr., built the first swimming pool in Ocean City in 1917 on Boardwalk property his family owned. The pool was located between N. Division and Caroline Streets and relied on pumped-in water from the ocean, making it a saltwater pool. The pool was open to the public at the cost of 25 cents.
When the infamous Hurricane of 1933 hit Ocean City, the pool and its connecting pipeline were severely damaged. The pool was never restored and was instead replaced by Edward’s Five and Dime, which in more recent years has also joined the ranks of now-extinct experiences to have in Ocean City.
Riding Along in Rolling Chairs
Predating the establishment of the convenient tram scene on Ocean City’s Boardwalk, rolling chairs were a popular sight to see. Their heyday tenure spanned somewhere between the 1920s through the 1940s. Vacationers would rent out these wicker basket-like contraptions on wheels to be rolled about the Boardwalk by boys (often students looking to earn extra cash as part of a summer job).
Dinner at the Olive Tree
Some widely renowned food establishments in Ocean City are age-old traditions. Current examples include Dumser’s, the Dough Roller, and popular snack spots like Thrasher’s Fries and Fisher’s Popcorn. One long-time Italian restaurant that was a hit with families for more than six decades was the Olive Tree.
Experiencing Morbid Manor
While there exists today a Haunted House on the Ocean City Boardwalk, Jolly Roger at the Pier was formerly home to a creepy amusement spanning two decades. It was Morbid Manor. Designed to appear like an abandoned haunted mansion, the attraction stood two and a half stories tall and contained a most eerie experience for zombie seekers brave enough to venture in.
Following some renovations to the interior and exterior of the building, though, in 1995, Morbid Manor was the unfortunate casualty of an electrical fire (the result of the renovations just a year earlier. While there was a sprinkler system in place, it had been turned off to prevent pipe freezing during the winter months. Therefore, the building was burned beyond all salvageable repair.
Visiting Shantytown Village
Once upon a time, there was a quaint seaside village scene over the 50 Bridge. It was Shantytown Village. Inspired by an old-fashioned New England fishing village, Shantytown was the brainchild of Daniel Trimper IV. After a visit to Nantucket, Trimper returned home to Ocean City with new motivation. So, he developed Shantytown in 1976.
For more than two decades, Shantytown offered a relaxed escape from the surrounding hustle and bustle to those who knew its secret. It contained somewhere around 30 shops, food options, and a classic fishing pier, of course. But in 2003, Shantytown Village was demolished in favor of the construction of new residential housing to meet the demands of the rapidly growing vacationer scene.
Outings to the Ocean Plaza Mall
In addition to the still-present Gold Coast Mall, Ocean City was formerly home to the Ocean Plaza Mall. It was built in 1983 and opened with the tagline that it was the “Indoor Boardwalk.” The Ocean Plaza Mall connected many other shops within the 94th Street Plaza, including a thrift store and the then-Superfresh Market (later ACME, which still stands in the lot independently). The Mall shuttered its doors in 2005 and was leveled more than a decade later.
Jolly Extras at Jolly Roger
Throughout the 1980s, Jolly Roger on 30th Street saw many unique additions. Some of the wilder ones included various animal shows, an alligator pond, the Royal Hannford Circus, and my personal favorite—an onsite petting zoo. Among the most unique animal encounters they offered was the opportunity to be led around on the back of an actual live elephant—a feat not only unheard of today but one since deemed incredibly dangerous.
Wandering the Wonders of the Wax Museum
Believe it or not, the site of the current Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum was once home to a short-lived sensation. It was Ocean City’s very own wax museum of such acclaim. Developed and operated by C.M. Uberman Enterprises in Gettysburg, the museum opened in 1991 and was touted as being the largest wax museum on the East Coast. Their housing featured an impressive holding comprising more than 150 lifelike famous figures and “Seven Wondrous Worlds in Wax.” These included The World of Stars, The World of Music, The World of Movieland, The World of Discovery, The World of Make Believe, The World of Courage, and The World of the Horrible.
The museum closed in 1995. Following this permanent shuttering, all of the wax figures were sold and auctioned off to both commercial operations and private collectors alike.
Shopping at Schumaker’s Country Store
While a less antiquated experience than others on the list, it still fills me with a classic sense of undeniable nostalgia to reflect upon. Heading over to 81st Street Bayside was a real treat for me as a little girl. It meant visiting what was once my favorite shop, Schumaker’s Country Store. Having opened in 1997, the multi-leveled shop (which featured a beautiful glass elevator) boasted a bounty of cute knick-knacks and homey finds. But it was their store-made fudge and candy counter that was their ultimate callout. Sadly, though, they closed only a few short years later.
Getting What You Need at Roses
The most recent now-extinct experience to me lamented is, of course, that controversial decision to close Ocean City’s trusted Roses Department Store location. I don’t need to get into detail about it. It’s still fairly fresh in the minds of most since it’s only been about a year or so. But Roses really was a community staple for so many and for so long! Locals and vacationers alike depended on it for all those quick, affordable last-minute finds, all conveniently in one place.
Roses was demolished in light of apparent developments now in progress on revitalizing the parking lot where the aforementioned Ocean Plaza Mall once stood.
Many of the experiences I have cited are from Ocean City’s more recent past. Throughout its tenure, including those earlier years of the 19th century, there have been countless other now-gone experiences to take note of as well. Just consider all the ways the Boardwalk has changed in general—not a permanent fixture, much shorter, and having features that have since gone away. It just goes to show you how quickly today’s rites of passage can become yesterday’s memories.