Playland’s Castaway Cove Prepares for a Busy 2025 Season

OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY — Crews were busy at Playland’s Castaway Cove on the Boardwalk this Tuesday, preparing for a bustling summer season in 2025. The amusement park, known for its family-friendly attractions, is set to introduce new rides, including a breakdance ride and a helicopter ride known as Wind Star. Additionally, a beloved pirate ship will make its return to the Boardwalk, and a rooftop roller coaster is in the works. This year’s preparations are more hectic than usual due to a variety of new features.

OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY — Crews were busy at Playland’s Castaway Cove on the Boardwalk this Tuesday, preparing for a bustling summer season in 2025. The amusement park, known for its family-friendly attractions, is set to introduce new rides, including a breakdance ride and a helicopter ride known as Wind Star. Additionally, a beloved pirate ship will make its return to the Boardwalk, and a rooftop roller coaster is in the works. This year’s preparations are more hectic than usual due to a variety of new features. The park is also working on reopening an arcade that was destroyed in a fire four years ago, which has taken years of planning to rebuild. The new arcade will feature both physical games like Skee-Ball and video games from Jilly’s, another Boardwalk favorite. The arcade will be completed with a Dairy Queen and additional retail spaces. The park's management is also facing the challenge of becoming the only amusement park in Ocean City, following the closure of Gillian's Wonderland. While concerns about overcrowding this summer have been raised, Playland’s Vice President, Brian Hartley, says the team is preparing for the unknown, moving rides and creating more walking areas for visitors. The park’s expansion, along with the return of iconic attractions, has generated excitement for the upcoming season, despite the intense work that remains to be done. Hartley is confident the park will be ready for the influx of visitors this summer.