Travel

Waves of anger on reopened Island Beach over Christie's 'arrogance'

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK — Colorful umbrellas occupied the sand as far as the eye could see as beachgoers soaked up the sun Tuesday on Island Beach State Park, celebrating what’s left of the Fourth of July weekend following a three day shutdown. But that doesn’t mean tourists and locals forgot who was on that beach…

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Heat wave takes aim at N.J. for July 4th weekend

New Jersey could be on the brink of its third heat wave of the year — with temperatures soaring to the 90-degree mark and high humidity making it feel like it’s close to 100 degrees — just in time for Fourth of July weekend. “Summer is back,” said Joe Martucci, a meteorologist at the WeatherWorks forecasting…

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How Lakewood became a worldwide destination for Orthodox Jews | Di Ionno

It is Friday in Lakewood. A few thousand young men in black suits and wide-brimmed black hats are rushing toward Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), the world’s largest yeshiva outside of Israel. Parking in the vicinity of the school is as impossible as finding a spot in Hoboken or Jersey City. Students circle in their Toyotas, Nissans…

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LBI: Then And Now – Loveladies

This aerial photograph of the small community of Loveladies on Long Beach Island shows the development of Long Beach Island.  The original photo was taken in the early to mid 1950’s and the current view is the most recent Google Earth imagery available.

If you look closely, you can see that some of the original homes still exist with modifications and additions.  Loveladies is located in the northern section of Long Beach Township on Long Beach Island.

It was a location of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, established in 1871. The land adjacent to the station was owned by Thomas Lovelady and the section of the island was called “Lovelady’s” before eventually evolving into Loveladies.

 

Lbi: then and now - loveladies - photo licensed by shore news network.
1950’s photo on file at the oc heritage archive, photographer, origin unknown.
Lbi: then and now - loveladies - photo licensed by shore news network.
Google earth imagery, loveladies, lbi.

Seaside Heights Passes 3% Hotel Tax

SEASIDE HEIGHTS-The Seaside Heights borough council, in February, passed an ordinance to enact a 3% hotel tax on room rentals.   Seaside Heights Councilman Christopher Vaz said the tax was suggested because the state was making the borough look for additional sources of income.

“Due to the fact that we have transitional aid from them and to cover the additional costs incurred from added police presence during the summer season,” Vaz said.

The council unanimously passed the resolution.  A room costing $200 per night would net the township $6 in revenue daily.

Dolphin Arena at Great Adventure Demolished

ArenaJACKSON-Six Flags Great Adventure began demolishing the Fort Independence arena, the former home of the theme park’s Dolphin Discovery program, last week to make way for a new attraction at the park.

Built in 1974, it was one of the largest original structures at the theme park.   It was originally named “Aqua Spectacle” and seated nearly 2,000 guests.    It featured a 16 foot deep pool for dolphins, seals and sea lions.   It was once the centerpiece attraction for the park.

Once the home of dare-devil aquatic high divers, it was the centerpiece attraction for decades.    During its heydey there were six dolphin shows and six high-diving shows each day.

“The original shows at the Aqua Spectacle were really unique. While most parks that had dolphin shows at the time had two or three performing animals, Great Adventure featured ten performing at one time,” according to GreatAdventureHistory.Com, “The diving shows featured an array of dives from platforms of varying heights, with multiple divers performing stunt dives. The show was capped with the dive from the 100 foot high platform high above the pool.”

The diving shows ended back 2001.  In 2002, the more recent Dolphin Discovery programs were established.  The dolphin shows came to an end after the 2011 season when Cody, one of dolphins starring in the shows died.

Avalon, the last living performing dolphin at the time was sent back to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California according to Kristin Siebeneicher, spokeswoman for the park.

The arena will make way for a new rollercoaster named Total Mayhem.

Aqua-stadium

“We are thrilled to unveil one of the newest concepts in roller coaster engineering with Total Mayhem,” said Park President John Fitzgerald. “Six Flags Great Adventure’s world-renowned coaster collection will expand into the realm of insanity – or spinsanity – with this new, vertical coaster that delivers gravity-defying somersaults with utter unpredictability. It is the perfect addition to our dynamic line-up of award-winning roller coasters because this ride delivers next generation, cutting-edge thrills.”

Total Mayhem features a twisting and floating experience onboard 4-D wing vehicles that seat up to 8 passengers per car.  Face-off seats will allow riders to face each other as they tumble head over heels.  A 120-foot-tall, 90-degree hill that is ascended by an elevator-style, chain link lift is accompanied by two beyond 90-degree “raven” drops giving the sensation of free-falling.

Total Mayhem is expected to open in the spring of 2016.

“We are thrilled to unveil one of the newest concepts in roller coaster engineering with Total Mayhem,” said Park President John Fitzgerald. “Six Flags Great Adventure’s world-renowned coaster collection will expand into the realm of insanity – or spinsanity – with this new, vertical coaster that delivers gravity-defying somersaults with utter unpredictability. It is the perfect addition to our dynamic line-up of award-winning roller coasters because this ride delivers next generation, cutting-edge thrills.”

For more information on the history of the arena and Six Flags Great Adventure, GreatAdventureHistory.Com.

Photos by http://www.greatadventurehistory.com/.

 

 

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