January 11, 2019
Source/Morey's Piers
The Runaway Tram, a family-friendly roller coaster inspired by the historic Wildwood Sightseer Tramcar, will debut at Morey's Piers in the summer of 2019.
Celebrating its 50th year on the boardwalk in Wildwood, Morey's Piers will pay homage this summer to another classic experience at the Jersey Shore town — the Tramcar.
The amusement park announced Friday it will build a new family-friendly roller coaster, the Runaway Tram, on Surfside Pier.
“The Wildwood Sightseer Tramcar is a beloved sight on the boardwalk, and it made complete sense to pay homage to this Jersey shore staple as we celebrate 50 years on the piers,” said Jack Morey, second generation partner of Morey’s Piers. “To keep our family business ever-evolving, we strive to create innovative new experiences for our guests that honor the history of Wildwood.”
The Tramcar, famous for its instruction, "Watch the Tramcar, please," was originally built for the 1939 World's Fair in New York. The tram cars debuted on the Wildwood boardwalk in 1949, starting at a dime per ride, and have carried an estimated 20 million people along the Jersey Shore destination since then.
The Runaway Tram, a $4 million project, will rise 40 feet before twisting and turning along 922 feet of track. The ride features one train with 10 two-person passenger cars and will require a reconfiguration of Surfside Pier.
With the addition of the new ride, Morey's Pier will have seven roller coasters as part of more 100 rides and attractions spanning six beach blocks.
