Defunct Ocean Playland Amusement Park - Ocean City, Maryland

06/29/2021

The current issue of Baltimore magazine has a fantastic Ocean City piece by Baltimore writer extraordinaire Rafael Alvarez. There is some Playland content in there too!

12/19/2020

Looks like we'll have at least one more season to take a final trip through Trimper's Haunted House. A must do, to treasure this OC landmark and see some of the last pieces Playland in existence. A number of Ghost Ship dioramas still operate within the ride.

(Dec. 11, 2020) Rumors that the Haunted House at Trimper’s Rides will close are not true, President Antoinette Bruno said earlier this week.

12/18/2020

Sending out some nostalgic and happy OC thoughts and vibes on a cold December day. Not sure where this shot was "borrowed" from originally. But it's a great look at the Boardwalk in the mid-70s.

08/31/2020

August 31st 1980, was likely Playland's last of existence in Ocean City, MD. Here's to all the memories left there - and still in our hearts 40 years later. This map is a two-page spread from Earl Shores recently published Playland In Photos book. It's how the park looked when it opened in 1965.

08/30/2020

A very unique image of the backside of Playland. There really aren't many images of the Rotor. The boats in the bay were no longer an attraction when this early 1970s image was taken. The Rotor was still part of the park as the final days of Playland counted down in late-August of 1980.

08/29/2020

40 years ago in 1980, Playland was getting ready shut its gates for good. And the scene of Playland lighting up the Ocean City night sky would go dark forever. A rare night shot of the park, courtesy of Playland: Greetings from Ocean City, Maryland.(Image can be found in the new Playland In Photos book.)

08/28/2020

Forty years ago, Playland was in its final days of existence. And this ride Spider would find itself in eastern Ohio for the summer of 1981.

Labor Day fell on September 1st in 1980, so 40 years ago Playland was just days away from shutting its gates for good. This is the only Playland Spider image I've ever come across (than you Tammy Hoiser Betterton!) The ride was only in the park from 1978-80, so that's likely the reason. It still was a lot of fun to run. A true barf machine!!😁

08/20/2020

Earl Shores continues to recount his 1980 summer working at Playland. It would be the park's final summer of existence. And what view from the Airborne ride!

My late August 1980 Playland "Farewell Tour" took to me to the Airborne after a few days of running the Coaster. Like the Hurricane, the Airborne was one Playland's original rides. It overlooked the bay in the back of park, and was one of the most beautiful locations to spend a night. Unlike the Sky Ride or the Coaster, I was on my own running the ride. I even had my own little booth!! A fun night. Not to be a broken record, but those of us working the park in those final weeks didn't have clue that Playland would never reopen. Page on the left is from Playland: Greetings From Ocean City. Page on the right is from my new Playland In Photos book.

08/15/2020

More flashbacks to Playland's final summer from Earl Shores at Playland: Greetings from Ocean City, Maryland. This time its the Hurricane Coaster!

Forty years ago in 1980...Playland was in its final weeks of existence. Those of us working in the park, didn't have a clue, as everything was going along normally just as they had all summer. Thanks to the assistant manager - and some begging on my part - I was on a "tour" of some of the parks major attractions, running the Sky Ride and the Hurricane Coaster on consecutive nights. No future job would ever equal the wonder and fun of those two nights!! 😁

08/12/2020

Some memories of Playland's final summer, courtesy of Playland: Greetings from Ocean City, Maryland!

Forty years ago...Playland was in its last weeks of existence, and I'd finally gotten a reprieve from the go-karts!! My first night of ride-running "freedom" came on the Sky Ride. It was a peaceful and relaxing night basking in a bay view sunset! Really one of the highlights for my entire working life. Like, is this job for real???😄

08/03/2020

Forty years ago in 1980 Playland was heading into the final month of its existence. On Labor Day weekend the park gates closed one final time, never to reopen.

07/24/2020

A great image of Playland's Hurricane Coaster under construction in late spring of 1965. Amazing that it was finished in time for the park's opening a few weeks later. Many thanks to Karl Schwarz for the image!