You know it today as one of Ocean City’s top-rated family-friendly accommodations. Featuring an array of amenities and enjoyable experiences located conveniently onsite, including its offering of both hotel rooms and condo units alike, it’s safe to assume that this optimal oceanfront resort makes for a universally befitting suggestion for anyone and everyone seeking a place to stay and play in Ocean City, Maryland. I am, of course, referring to none other than the famed and fabled Carousel Oceanfront Resort Hotel & Condominiums.
It was founded with the intent that it would not just be a hotel but an entire center of entertainment—an escape for important metropolitan bigwigs and families alike. The goal was to provide the public with the most accommodating, comfortable, and versatile experiences, characterized by impeccable qualities and standards that surpassed comparison. The resulting legacy is testament enough to the success of the once ambitious dream that became a reality, despite the hardships its founder faced.
This past Tuesday, July 22, marked the anniversary of the official grand opening of the Carousel back in 1962. Nearly six and a half decades later, the pleasantries and popularity of the notable resort are still sending it flying at an all-time high. That’s why, for this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m paying tribute to the evolutionary history behind Ocean City’s now acclaimed Carousel.
The Carousel Concept
The Carousel was founded in 1962 by Robert Gene “Bobby” Baker. Born November 12, 1928, in South Carolina, before he moved to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to begin a new hotel venture, Baker gained renown as a Washington, D.C. politician. He even went on to serve as Lyndon Johnson’s political adviser and the Senate’s secretary to the majority leader.
Baker came to Ocean City touting a master plan to enhance the greater local scene. He intended to do so by creating an all-new concept for a premium hotel premises just beyond the boundaries of what were at the time Ocean City’s established city limits. This hotel would offer a respite and retreat away from the hustle and bustle of city life for D.C.’s elite while bringing about a new, happening scene full of fun endeavors for vacationing families and Eastern Shore locals alike.
When his new hotel, which was more of a motel owing to its size, first premiered in 1962, it was an immediate hit. Everyone, from common folk to celebrities and politicians, was drawn to the scene, including then-Vice President Johnson himself, who was there for the grand opening!
While still impressive and glamorous for its day, the original building, ultimately referred to as “the Bobby Baker Building” in retrospect, was just four stories tall and contained 75 rooms overlooking the oceanfront. Baker intended to enhance the hotel even further, with so many long-term elaborate plans still in the works. Unfortunately, political troubles involving bribery, tax fraud, and evasion brought his dreams to an unexpected halt.
A New Era of Expansions
As a result of the aforementioned legal woes of Washington, in 1971, Baker was arrested and sentenced to serve 15 months of jail time. In the wake of his absence and obvious inability to run the hotel from prison, his wife Dorothy and brother-in-law Bob Comstock, who was serving as his power-of-attorney at the time, sold the Carousel out from under him. It was a sad and crushing end to his once-lofty dream.
While Baker’s plans for expansion were prematurely cut short, the overall dreams he fostered lived on and were rightfully realized by other ambitious interests. It was under a new management team running the helm of operations through the 1970s that the Carousel thrived and flourished into a new era of expansions.
The construction of an Atrium along with a 22-story Tower Building made welcome additions to the scene in 1974. Both were built onto the already-existing original building, transforming the resort into one of the only high-rises in Ocean City at the time. Because it now included both condominiums and hotel units, as well as the epic amenities housed within the newly established Atrium, Ocean City’s Carousel also became the town’s only multi-use facility.
The contested callouts of the newly established Atrium have provided a legendary boost to the resort. All of the featured amenities back then continue to prevail to this day. It’s here where you will find the convention center, indoor swimming pool, sauna, exercise room, two arcade/game rooms, a full-service restaurant and lounge, concession stand, and a multitude of other attributes.
The now-famous ice-skating rink remains the Atrium’s biggest standout feature, serving as the only year-round, indoor ice-skating rink in all of Ocean City.
The Tower Building contains the front desk, lobby, and various office rooms on the first floor. Hotel rooms and suites are located on floors two through five, comprising 162 in all. The condominium units are on floors six through 22, making up a total of just under 200. Condos consist of two and three-bedroom options and are privately owned.
Additions and expansions continued well into the 1980s and 1990s. Despite ownership changes throughout the decades, it had become mutually understood that the admirable Carousel Resort would always motivate whoever was running the show to do an optimal job in operating it.
The Carousel earned a reputation as the resort that offered the most amenities in all of Ocean City. The site gained fame as the place for social gatherings and family-friendly get-togethers. Modifications in the building’s design were implemented a few times as well. Both internal and external adjustments were made to the scene.
Millennium Milestones
The 2000s saw many other major milestones come to the Carousel. It was during this time that they merged with Hospitality Partners, improved the site with even more renovations, and expanded the amenities and activities for guests and visitors alike. One new and successful addition came with the partnering of a professional ice-skating company in 2002. This resulted in ongoing nightly ice shows throughout the summer months—a tradition that remains current today.
Other activities and endeavors have since emerged as the Carousel’s hallmark offerings in addition. These now include Family Photo Night, where you can take a photo and receive a complimentary 5×7 print, Movies on the Beach on Wednesdays during warmer months, indoor movie showings on Mondays and Fridays, poolside crafting activities for children, “Mermaid” Swim times, live musical performances, and various changing seasonal features. It makes visiting the Carousel a year-round resort—a reputed rite of passage you just have to experience at some point on a visit to Ocean City. So, what are you waiting for? Book now!
The Carousel Oceanfront Resort Hotel & Condominiums is located at 11700 Coastal Highway, 118th St Oceanfront, Ocean City, MD 21842. To learn more, visit the website at www.carouselhotel.com.