lost in NJ
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,407
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
http://www.darkinthepark.com/Brigantine/Lives/lives.htm
The Castle Lives
Brigantine Castle burnt to the ground on September 26th, 1987. Nothing remains of the structure except some burnt pilings that can be seen along the beach at 14th Street North. Because the attraction had been closed for about three years before the fire, many of the props and furnishings of the castle had been removed by castle employees or stolen by island teenagers. If you travel around Brigantine, you may run across some of the pillaged memorabilia.
The castle pier parking lot had several lights with cement bases that were covered in the same imitation stone as the lower walls of the castle. The lights were removed a long time ago, but the cement bases with stone covering survived until 2003. The bases were finally removed to make room for new housing.
One of the light bases from the Brigantine Castle parking lot in 2002. The imitation stone coverings on these bases were the same that was used on the lower castle walls. These bases survived into the new millennium, but were recently removed to make room for new housing.
Although the structure no longer exists, Brigantine Castle is still alive in the minds of the actors that once worked there. Since 1992, many of the original actors have regularly gotten together around Halloween to host haunted houses in various locations. The most recent of these performances was in October of 1999 at Surf's Sandcastle stadium in Atlantic City, NJ. For this performance, 15 of the original 30 Brigantine Castle cast members reunited to produce what was titled, the Haunted Castle and Field of Screams.
If you are in the Brigantine area, and you are looking for information about the castle, you should stop by the Brigantine Beach Historical Museum on 3607 Brigantine Boulevard. There is a display devoted to the Brigantine Castle pier. You can call the museum at (609) 266-9339 to check for operating hours.
Another good place to gather information about the castle is the Atlantic County Library on 1500 W. Brigantine Avenue. The library has a folder in their vertical file devoted to the castle. You can call the library at (609) 266-0110 to check for operating hours, or visit their website.
If you visit the castle pier location, you should stop for a bite to eat at the Pirate's Den. This restaurant, which is located directly across from where the castle once stood, has a small display devoted to the castle and the castle pier. The food at this diner style restaurant is pretty good and the prices are reasonable. It is open year round and can be contacted at 609-266-1927 for operating hours.
Brigantine Castle burnt to the ground on September 26th, 1987. Nothing remains of the structure except some burnt pilings that can be seen along the beach at 14th Street North. Because the attraction had been closed for about three years before the fire, many of the props and furnishings of the castle had been removed by castle employees or stolen by island teenagers. If you travel around Brigantine, you may run across some of the pillaged memorabilia.
The castle pier parking lot had several lights with cement bases that were covered in the same imitation stone as the lower walls of the castle. The lights were removed a long time ago, but the cement bases with stone covering survived until 2003. The bases were finally removed to make room for new housing.
One of the light bases from the Brigantine Castle parking lot in 2002. The imitation stone coverings on these bases were the same that was used on the lower castle walls. These bases survived into the new millennium, but were recently removed to make room for new housing.
Although the structure no longer exists, Brigantine Castle is still alive in the minds of the actors that once worked there. Since 1992, many of the original actors have regularly gotten together around Halloween to host haunted houses in various locations. The most recent of these performances was in October of 1999 at Surf's Sandcastle stadium in Atlantic City, NJ. For this performance, 15 of the original 30 Brigantine Castle cast members reunited to produce what was titled, the Haunted Castle and Field of Screams.
If you are in the Brigantine area, and you are looking for information about the castle, you should stop by the Brigantine Beach Historical Museum on 3607 Brigantine Boulevard. There is a display devoted to the Brigantine Castle pier. You can call the museum at (609) 266-9339 to check for operating hours.
Another good place to gather information about the castle is the Atlantic County Library on 1500 W. Brigantine Avenue. The library has a folder in their vertical file devoted to the castle. You can call the library at (609) 266-0110 to check for operating hours, or visit their website.
If you visit the castle pier location, you should stop for a bite to eat at the Pirate's Den. This restaurant, which is located directly across from where the castle once stood, has a small display devoted to the castle and the castle pier. The food at this diner style restaurant is pretty good and the prices are reasonable. It is open year round and can be contacted at 609-266-1927 for operating hours.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,275
Likes: 19
From: Camden County NJ
Grew up in the Bronx we used to hit Palisades all the time. I was bummed when it closed. Hell I even remember the Worlds Fair in Queens
Last edited by BT-01-vette; Nov 10, 2006 at 07:58 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 2
From: Northern NJ
Originally Posted by Wayne88
You're talking about my childhood.
I grew up 6 blocks away from Pal Amusement Park.
When I was little, I’d fall asleep with the sound of the roller coaster blaring thru my bedroom window.
I had a seasons pass to the swimming pool when 11 & 12.
I worked there full time when 13 & 14, during the summer months.
I saw cousin Brucie every week with Dion & The Belmonts, Freddy Cannon, and a slew of other ‘pop’ artists of that era.
Me and my friends would go & watch the circus set-up every year, before the season opened. Never paid to see it.
Occasionally, I will run into someone else who was ‘there’ like I was and we will reminisce.
Not too many of us left.
That picture up there is the information booth [with the American flag].
The Cyclone--thats the big roller coaster, there was a small one too.
To the right is the entrance to the Carousel.
Beyond the info booth was the 'tunnel of love'.
BTW, for the kids from around town did not go on rides after the age of twelve years old, or you weren't too cool.
Thanks for bringing up the memories
I grew up 6 blocks away from Pal Amusement Park.
When I was little, I’d fall asleep with the sound of the roller coaster blaring thru my bedroom window.
I had a seasons pass to the swimming pool when 11 & 12.
I worked there full time when 13 & 14, during the summer months.
I saw cousin Brucie every week with Dion & The Belmonts, Freddy Cannon, and a slew of other ‘pop’ artists of that era.
Me and my friends would go & watch the circus set-up every year, before the season opened. Never paid to see it.
Occasionally, I will run into someone else who was ‘there’ like I was and we will reminisce.
Not too many of us left.
That picture up there is the information booth [with the American flag].
The Cyclone--thats the big roller coaster, there was a small one too.
To the right is the entrance to the Carousel.
Beyond the info booth was the 'tunnel of love'.
BTW, for the kids from around town did not go on rides after the age of twelve years old, or you weren't too cool.
Thanks for bringing up the memories
Hirams or Callahans? (Callahands is gone now)
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: east rutherford new jersey
Originally Posted by ChrissieINjersey
Jungle Habitat was in West Milford. And I remeber Wild west City but forget where it was. I just got a old post of GingerBread Castle rememeber that???
like steve t said......wwc is in netcong, and still going strong. i think an actor just died there recently, as someone loaded real bullets into a gun during a gunfight.
habitat was cool. that dude banged up, but let a lot of animals loose, hence, creating TONS of cross breeding odd ball looking animals. that was a real big deal in wnj mags.
the castle was (is) being auctioned on ebay, although i think it may have gotten cancelled.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 238
Likes: 6
From: Toms River The Shore
Originally Posted by TryNkeepUp
What about the Haunted Mansion in Long Branch? Or Brigantine's Castle? Are they still around? LOVED going there as a teenager
http://www.darkinthepark.com/Haunted.../lbhistory.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,407
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Originally Posted by fastback79
My favorite place to go as a kid was Asbury Park. Today Asbury Park makes Wild West City look like Disneyland.
I went there a lot as a kid as well, it was not that far of a ride back then. Too bad things went down hill there.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey Exit 5&7 NJTPK New Jersey
Originally Posted by mkiv808
My folks talked about it. Way before my time.
My childhood was Great Adventure, Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant Beach, Water Works. Those were the days.
My childhood was Great Adventure, Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant Beach, Water Works. Those were the days.
Yeah those were the days....chasing boys on the boardwalk. Now I just look....
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,369
Likes: 142
From: For the strength of the pack is the wolf . . . . . . and the strength of the wolf is the pack.
Originally Posted by pbadad
"Mommy and Daddy take my hand ...take me out to Freedomland"
....jimmy
Charlie should remember this.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 28,982
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Alex1217
WTF are you all talking about? Never heard of any of those places. The only amusement park I've mourned is the loss of Action Park in the early 90's. That place was so cool, it had that concrete tobogan ride that if you fell down, you'd kill yourself. Plus, it had that pond with the cliff where you could dive off of. I can almost guarantee that someone got killed on either of those two, that's why the park was closed down. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
well,...not exactly
Originally Posted by THawkbh
action park closed down because there was some electrical short and everyone in the wave pool was electrocuted. it reopened as another park but i dont remember what it was called.
Its popularity, however, went hand in hand with a reputation for poorly-designed, unsafe rides; inattentive, underaged, underpaid and sometimes under-the-influence employees; equally intoxicated and underprepared visitors — and the poor safety record that followed from this perfect storm of circumstances. At least six people are known to have died as a result of mishaps on rides at the park, and it was nicknamed "Traction Park", "Accident Park", "Danger Park" and "Death Park" by doctors at nearby hospitals due to the many severely injured parkgoers they treated. While little action was taken by state regulators despite a history of repeat violations, in its later years personal-injury lawsuits forced the closure of more and more rides and finally the park itself. ...jimmy
Last edited by pbadad; Nov 14, 2006 at 10:30 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 47,647
Likes: 1
From: Queens, New York Life begins at 183 mph....
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by THawkbh
action park closed down because there was some electrical short and everyone in the wave pool was electrocuted. it reopened as another park but i dont remember what it was called.
