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2014


November 26, 2014
Good morning and a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I visited OC last weekend and snapped a few quick photos to show you some updates. The gallery mainly features photos of the new sign and columns on the HH, but also the new signs that were installed on all of the park's ticket booths over the summer. They look fantastic! There are a few changes coming to the park next year, but I won't spoil it for you. Keep it tuned in here over the winter to learn about developments.


November 4, 2014
There are other big orange letters being spruced up, too. The Mirror Maze sign has undergone a complete overhaul, sanding them down, priming, and finishing with bright pumpkin orange to prepare for another year. With the exception of the Freak Out, Rock Star, and Rock & Roll, all of the rides are just about taken down for the winter.


November 3, 2014
The 50th anniversary season is over, and the Trimpers are already getting ready for year 51! Today, crews disassembled the entire sign area, replaced the rotted planks of wood behind the letters, and cut out all new letters out of a new plastic resin material that will not rot ever again. They were careful to follow the templates of the old letters, and painted them to give the sign its famous eerie glow.

In addition, the two center columns were completely replaced and painted, bringing life back to the facade. Things are surely looking up for the old gal, and now that the Bat is tucked away in his hiding spot for the winter, crews are about ready to bring down the steel gates until spring of next year.


November 3, 2014
Happy Monday, and happy belated Halloween! I recently picked up a copy of the newly-released book Haunted Ocean City and Berlin by Mindie Burgoyne and I'd highly recommend it to any fan of the supernatural, especially as it relates to Ocean City. There is a chapter on Trimpers-how Granville Trimper is supposedly haunting the basement of the Inlet Lodge, fixing things as they break before a maintenance tech has the opportunity to even look at it. And, visitors experiencing the perfume scent of the late Joanne Trimper around the famous Carousel. Many other destinations like Plim Plaza, Dunes Manor, and Henry House are mentioned, too. I highly recommend it for any OC history buff.

October 27, 2014
Trimper's Haunted House will be open this Halloween Friday from 12pm to 8pm should anyone dare to visit for the special spooky occasion!

September 23, 2014
Happy fall, folks! Could certainly feel it in the air this morning!

I'm happy to share that this website just turned seven years old yesterday! It's been a fun time thus far, and hope to keep the website living and breathing for as long as I can dispite life getting in the way from time to time!

In case you missed it, check out an interesting article that was published in the New Jersey Star Ledger a few weeks ago which featured lots of photos from Trimper's Haunted House and some information about Bill Tracy, the ride's designer.

Winter is approaching and that means that the rides will slowly begin to be dismantled and taken to high ground until the spring. All in all, it's been a great 50th year for Trimper's Haunted House, made possible by all of you, the ride's biggest fans.

Stay well!

July 27, 2014
I was able to take a few photos of the new skeleton miners that were installed to help enhance the Crooked Corridor in the second room. Check out a gallery.

July 25, 2014
When the Wine Cellar stunt was removed from Trimper's Haunted House back in the late 1990s, I was pretty bummed out as it was one of my favorite pieces from the Ghost Ship incorporation. But, I felt better knowing that one of Tracy's Wine Cellar stunts was still on Trimper property in Pirates Cove. The Cove version, original from 1971, has always been well taken care of and has been behind steel caging from day one. This year, the original pirate body was removed and the head was rebuilt and repainted to look like new. It's still by far one of my favorite stunts in the Cove down at Trimper's. Check out a photo taken the other day of his new look.


July 14, 2014
For the first time in 50 years, Bill Tracy's Crooked Corridor in the second room of the ride is changing. This year, large paintings depicting skeleton miners will be displayed on either side of the corridor in an effort to encourage riders to believe they are in a mine shaft. Although Tracy's design didn't classify this room as a mine shaft per se, I suppose the additions will be neat. Keep an eye out for them during your next visit!

Tracy's original mine shaft from Ghost Ship was turned into a dark "Hallway" back in 2012, but the Falling Beam stunt still remains at the top of the hill.


June 29, 2014
A brand new inflatable themed as a "Haunted House" has arrived and was installed where the Avalanche ride currently was. At least the spot won't sit empty all summer! Special thanks to forum member Brian A. who currently works at Trimper's Haunted House for sharing the photo. It has always been Brian's dream to work at the park and, in particular, at Trimper's Haunted House, and this summer his dream has come true!


June 27, 2014
I uploaded some additional photos I took of the new ticket booth. It truly looks great, and in my opinion, better than the old. The colors and design seems to go better with the front of the building! The small roof that overhangs the booth was rebuilt, too. In other news, the letter "D" was rebuilt for the front sign as the old one was rotted. Although, with every new version it's beginning to look more and more like an "O". Check out a photo.

June 22, 2014
I just now have gotten around to taking photos of the new Swinging Girl stunt that was installed last summer and uploading them in to a gallery. Currently, she is programmed to start kicking and swinging about every five minutes or so. Check it out!

June 21, 2014
In Trimper's Haunted House, the amazement has always been in the details. This year, another picture in the Upside-Down Room has been restored back to its former glory. Keep an eye out for it!


June 20, 2014
Trimper's Haunted House In The News

Ocean City Today reports: Trimper's Haunted House Turns 50

June 17, 2014
For the last few years, Bill Tracy's Knit Wit stunt has suffered a wobbly head due to 50 years of quickly spinning her chair around. I'm happy to report that she is finally back to being "head strong" and she has new makeup and hair to boot! Check out her updated look!


June 16, 2014
In celebration of the ride's 50th anniversary, our beloved Torture Chamber family members have received a makeover this year for the first time in about 25 years! Check out a full gallery of the figures, which now all include hands! In order to pull this off, each member had to be completely removed from the ride for a few weeks and taken the park artist's workshop. Now, all members have been restored except for the victim hanging upside down. Stay tuned in the coming days for cool Knit Wit developments!


June 6, 2014
Check out a great book review of Trimper's Rides... here.

June 2, 2014
Rock Star to Light Up The Midway In Inverter's Absence

As I reported in the fall, the Inverter, which has been a staple attraction at the park since the late 90s, was retired. A brand new ride called Rock Star from ARM Rides will take its place. You can see a preview of the attraction here. The setup and overall footprint is very similar to that of the Inverter. As of now, it will be set up in the same position and will complement the new Rock & Roll Matterhorn very well. Keep your eyes out for this bright new feature this summer.

The Avalanche, which debuted in the mid 90s, was also removed from the park for repairs a few weeks back. It is uncertain at this time whether the attraction will return to the ride lineup for the 2014 season, but stay tuned.

May 28, 2014
Release of Trimper's Rides Only Five Days Away


I'm excited to share that Trimper's Rides will be released on Monday, June 2. You can get your copy at Trimper's website after it's released, as well as other online retailers and local stores. It contains great, never-before-seen photography, historical artifacts, and fascinating stories of evolution, resilience, and growth spanning well over a century. Check out a great preview article.

May 27, 2014
Tracy Original Out For Repairs


One of the most iconic original Bill Tracy stunts in Trimper's Haunted House recently left for some makeup, a manicure, and some new attire. The Damsel in Distress figure has left the building, leaving a temporary hole in the famous Torture Chamber lineup. The video below, the first video I've found on YouTube from this year, clearly shows her missing. Stay tuned for updates regarding her return!
May 19, 2014
Trimper's Rides has always been in my heart, and one of the main reasons I have always visited the boardwalk. But in the early 90s, the Hollywood Wax Museum inhabited the pier building for about four years, from 1992 thru 1995, and it was also one of my favorite attractions. Check out a great, rare, newly-found brochure for the Wax Museum from 1993. It has always been a curiousity of mine as to where all of the wax figures ended up that were in the building. I called C.M. Uberman Enterprises, the former owner of the attraction, and they were unable to provide me with any photos or archival evidence that it ever existed. I have fond memories of that place!

Also, check out a newspaper article from when the attraction was closing in our Ocean City Publications section.

April 28, 2014
A new ticket booth. That's the ticket!

Not even Tracy's plywood panels can last forever out in the salty air of Ocean City's boardwalk. That's why the Trimpers have replaced the rotten front of the ticket booth with yet another Tracy panel! The panel was previously on the second story of the ride after being removed from the lobby last season to make way for "Breakthru." This is the first time since the ride was rebuilt in 1988 that the physical appearance of the ticket booth will be changed, and all for the better. View more photos of the album here.

Next up, the letters will be painted and the Bat will fly back to his 'star' for the ride's 50th year in operation. More to come. Stay tuned.

April 22, 2014
Trimper's Pirates Cove funhouse is receiving a little TLC this year, as the sign has been sanded and repainted and the backdrop mural behind Captain Hook has been primed and painted with a solid blue color. Unlike previous overhauls of the sign, this year the letters have been cut out of a plastic composite material and painted to match the old styling. It is virtually impossible to notice that the letters are now plastic instead of plywood, but the new material will eliminate the need to constantly cut out and paint new letters due to rot and splintering.

There is talk of doing a very similar treatment to the sign letters of Trimper's Haunted House, as new letters are constantly rebuilt due to the salt air and rot. Don't worry, though. The old letters will be traced and the styling will be unchanged. We'll see. Stay tuned.

April 7, 2014
Here is the cover of a vintage Trimper's Rides brochure from I believe the late 1970s. Visible are three retired classics: Toboggan, Skydiver, and Wild Mouse. Cool find!

April 6, 2014
DID YOU KNOW? Trimper's Haunted House isn't the only legendary attraction turning 50 this year. Disney's 'It's a Small World' is also turning 50 this year, as it was exhibited for its first time at the 1964 New York World's Fair during the same time Trimper's Haunted House was being built! Disney decided to move 'It's a Small World' to Disneyland following the conclusion of the World's Fair in 1965. Trimper's Haunted House is in great company!

March 4, 2014
Sending a letter just got a little scarier with the new Paul McGehee "Haunted House" Postage Stamp. The new "Haunted House" Scare Mail stamp is approved by USPS for use on both First-Class mail and postcards (you choose the denomination.) These SPOOKTACULAR stamps are perfect for all of your postal needs! Learn more.

February 22, 2014
Hi folks. I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe through this crazy winter we're having here on the East Coast.

I'm excited that our book, Trimper's Rides, will be released on June 2. You can get your copy at Trimper's website after it's released, as well as other online retailers and local stores. I am very fortunate to have been a part of this important project, and I think you all will get a kick out of it. It contains great, never-before-seen photography, historical artifacts, and fascinating stories of evolution, resilience, and growth spanning well over a century.

And, yes, Trimper's Haunted House is proudly printed on the cover. Would we have it any other way?

For now, you can read more at Arcadia Publishing's website. Stay tuned!

January 1, 2014
Happy New Year! Join me in celebrating as Trimper's Haunted House begins its 50th year in operation today. Learn more.




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