SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – The historic Seaside Heights Carousel that has most recently been a fixture at the Casino Pier Arcade is now being restored at an Ohio-based restoration company, but the pavilion that will house it is complete.
That’s according to Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz and the Borough of Seaside Heights. Now, the town is eyeing a spring 2023 grand opening to return the carousel to the boardalk.
“The Seaside Heights Carousel Pavilion & Museum building is finished! And now we continue to focus on carousel restoration and local history museum development/construction,” the borough said in a statement. “The Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Dentzel/Looff Carousel was shipped in August 2021 to Marion, Ohio based, Carousels & Carvings, Inc. for major restoration. Although a completion date is unknown at this time it is anticipated that the carousel will be reassembled in its new home on the Boardwalk Promenade in time for a grand opening spring 2023 (fingers crossed for an earlier grand opening).”
Borough Council hired museum consultants on April 20, 2022, to assist with the development of the local history museum – Barbara Fahs Charles (carousel expert and formerly of Staples & Charles); Whitepoint Fine Art based in Asbury Park; and Capitol Museum Services based in Manassas, Virginia. Each consultant will handle a separate aspect of the museum. The Seaside Heights Historical Society continues to accept loans and donations of historical memorabilia such as old photos, postcards, matchbooks, brochures, etc.