Haunted Castle fire 1984

[rwk]

Anyone remember the Haunted Castle fire May 11, 1984? That incident caused stricter laws regarding dark rides and haunted attractions in the state of NJ. A lot closed after that. Some others burned down like the Long Branch Haunted Mansion and Brigantine Castle, both in 1987, and Wildwood's Castle Dracula in 2002. There was another haunted castle fire in Wildwood in 1984, it was the Castle Frankenstein walk-through at the end of the old Fun Pier which opened in the late 70's and closed around 1982 according to funchase.com. I remember seeing it when I was at WW in the early 80's, I was between 6 and 9 years old at the time. Also www.mrboardwalk.net has pics of the castle before and after the fire. The only one I was actually in was Castle Dracula at Nickels Midway Pier (across from Mariner's Landing) in Wildwood. It opened in 1977 and saw it's final guests late October, 2001. It burned down Jan 2002 to arson. In Summer 2002 the owners put up a portable trampoline bungy ride where the castle was. It had two seperate attractions, the walk-through castle and the Dungeon boat ride under the castle. There's a walk-through haunted house in Seaside now, called Haunted Manor, plus the ride-through Stillwalk Manor on Casino Pier. Morey's in WW redid all their dark rides. Golden Nugget is still sitting there dead as usual. The last year it operated for the public was 1998 when the pier was Dinosaur Beach. I rode it many times when it was Hunt's Pier in the early 80's and Dino Beach between 96-98. William "Bud" Hunt (the son of William C. Hunt the founder of Hunt's Pier) sold the pier following 1985, and the new owners tore down the Flyer coaster, Jungleland, Pirate Ship, train, mini hot rods in 1989 for newer rides. Another place with lots of haunted attractions is Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada at a "fun street" called Clifton Hill. It's just past the US/Canada border crossing at the Rainbow Bridge. Most of those are open year-round. There's a Haunted House, Castle Dracula, House of Frankenstein, etc. I haven't been there yet.

[blazzinmatt]

Not being born yet I never saw this castle, but have heard many, many stories about it. People contemplated that Great Adventure might build another one after this one had burned down, but after the fire a lot of people ruled that whole idea out. I don't think we will ever see a Haunted Castle again at Great Adventure just because of this reason.

[Bubba Z]

I remember all that, but Brigantine Castle was the best walk Thru ever.
The only dark sally ride  I miss (I think that's who made it) was at Clementon Lake. The air conditioner alone was well worth the wait and props weren't half bad either . Then again I was only eight.

Dark rides I rode lately were Dante's Inferno at Williams Grove, Haunted Mansion at Knoebels and some lame one at Deno's at Coney Island.  

I think Gadv is happy enough with Houdini, than to add another haunted dark ride. Maybe a nice laser shooter but not something Haunted or scary.

[WadeJ]

Though the chances are slim, there is still a chance that the Golden Nugget will return.  I know the Morey organization was taking feedback throughout most of this year to hear what people had to say.

As for the Haunted Castle, it goes without saying that 99.99% of those on this board (since it is a gadv fansite) are very familiar with that horrible accident.

This is taken from Rideaccidents.com

Friday, May 11, 1984 - Eight teenagers burned to death in the Haunted Castle attraction at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey. A light bulb had burned out in one of the rooms of the attraction, and a 14-year-old boy lit a cigarette lighter to find his way through the darkness. The flame ignited some foam rubber padding which was used to protect people from bumping into a wall. A fire resulted, which quickly spread throughout the 17-trailer structure with the help of extremely flammable building materials. The fire eventually engulfed and totally destroyed the attraction. Fourteen people -- four of them employees -- managed to escape after the fire had started. Seven people were treated for smoke inhalation at an area hospital. Firefighters from 11 towns were called to the scene.

The families of those who were killed later sued Great Adventure, Inc., and its parent company, Six Flags Corp., charging them with manslaughter and aggravated manslaughter. The prosecution held that the park disregarded safety precautions, and that the disaster occurred due to the combustibility of the building, lack of sufficient emergency exits, and the lack of fire alarms and sprinkler systems. The defense cited a 1983 report by fire inspectors, which concluded that the attraction was safe for operation.

Great Adventure, Inc. and Six Flags Corporation faced maximum combined fines of $1.2 million. It was reported that they spent $6 million for their defense.

The companies were acquitted on all charges by a Superior Court jury on July 20, 1985, in Tom's River, New Jersey.

Just remember, Six Flags has changed owners twice since then.

[sfgadvfreak]

Bring back a haunted attraction so we can kinda of remember the haunted castle.  Something spectacular which captures the haunted houses of the past and present.

and  BRING BACK GOLD NUGGET!

[rwk]

Yeah, they won't even rebuild the Castle Dracula that was in Wildwood NJ! Anyone here remember it or had a chance to go in it before it burned? I did several times between '95 and '98. I'm pretty sure, though that there were many who never got in it before the 2002 fire or even heard about it since it's gone, especially kids or younger people and those who never went to Wildwood or went only recently (since 2002) for the first time. Another thing that sucks in Wildwood is alot of the older motels are being torn down for boring condos. I bet there's many people who never rode the Golden Nugget either, since it's last year of operation was 1998. I rode it between 1980-1983, and in 1996 and 1998. If you want some good haunted houses anytime of the year other than October, go to Niagara Falls, Canada.

[WadeJ]

Another thing that sucks in Wildwood is alot of the older motels are being torn down for boring condos.

Or they are burning down.  Another motel just burned a week or 2 ago.

[ChuckR]

Yeah, they won't even rebuild the Castle Dracula that was in Wildwood NJ! Anyone here remember it or had a chance to go in it before it burned? I

I went on that the summer before it burned down. I dont remember how old I was but I remember it was amazing! Now, that little water park is where it used to be.

[sfgadvfreak]

All I have to say that they replaced an icon of Wildwood with a lackluster water park.  I never got a chance to go into the castle, but I always remember it every time going there passing it by.  I remember it going through renovations at least twice before it burned down.

[chilled182]

But i have gotten a chance to see the depths of castle dracula.  It was very very well done.. and i am sad to say that doug is right in saying that the waterpark pretty much sits on top of where it once was.

I miss it.. and it was arsen i believe.. 2 teenagers.

We should make a.. Did You know? thread or title or something and let rwk moderate it.  He knows alot.

[sfgadvfreak]

And have something along the lines of historical information that some newer enthusiuasts wouldn't know about, suchg as covering the downflal of both haunted houses (GADV's an d MPs) and other fallen parks/rides such as Rye Playland and even our own Shockwave....ect.

[blazzinmatt]

I like Nick's Did Ya Know? Forum. Just little facts about the park that you think people might have not known. Just like a litle Snapple Facts in the forums

[rwk]

Hmm, last time I checked Rye Playland was still in business and opening in 2006. OK, name one other park that has an Old Mill plus two classic dark rides? Well, Wildwood was one of them, but now minus Castle Dracula with it's old mill. And Dorney Park with no dark rides anymore except Halloweekends haunted houses which are closed in the summer. Cedar Fair got rid of Dorney's old mill called Journey to the Center of the Earth which you see on the old Dorney pic from 1992 on the other page. Rye Playland's old mill is the closest to what Dorney's was minus the lift and drop at the end. So, I now must travel 100 miles to Playland to ride a classic old mill because Cedar Fair scrapped/razed/trashed/destroyed Journey after 1992. I was only at Playland once, in '99. The old mill was great. Now, it's renovated and looks better than ever. And the other dark rides at Playland were renovated, too. Parks like Waldameer, Erie, PA, Knoebels, Ocean City, MD, Rehoboth Beach, DE, Rye Playland, Coney, Wildwood, still have dark rides, but Dorney has NONE in the summer anymore. (walkthroughs only in October) I guess dark rides at least the old ones aren't as appealing to today's younger generations. Giant coasters and thrill rides sell today. Look at the covers of recent park brochures for Dorney Park and Six Flags. What were the recent new ride additions? Giant coasters and thrill rides. Well, Dorney got a new haunted house in 2004 for Halloweekends.

[sfgadvfreak]

WHoops, meant Pallisades park on that one.  I knew something sounded wrong when I type that in.

[snowboard101]

My dad told me about the fire, he said it was like a huge deal for GA and that NJ was like really concerned with the saftey after that as well.  My science teacher said she was there and that they were heading over to it and then they stopped at the bathroom and got to it and it was in flames.

[sfgadvfreak]

New Jersey really doesn't have much luck with haunted houses.  PA on the other hand *cough*Knobels*cough* is a bit different.

[rwk]

Yes, Knoebel's Haunted Mansion is one of the best I was on. I was at Knoebel's about 4 times in my life (it's 70 miles nw from me). NJ dark rides are crap today, unless you count Stillwalk Manor at Seaside, it was recently renovated about two years ago and was voted one of the scariest in NJ. There's also Haunted Manor walkthrough on the other pier, Fun town as well. Dorney Park, my hometown park has gotten away from ride through dark rides under Cedar Fair and now has walkthroughs open in October weekends only. (yeah you see one of Dorney's last dark rides in that air shot of Thunderhawk without Steel Force, the dark ride was an old mill called Journey to the Center of the Earth, built 1927 as Mill Chute, rethemed 1960, razed after 1992) It was to the left of Thunderhawk's old station building torn down after 1994. The Scrambler is there now. No dark rides whatsoever (anymore) in the summer season. Rye Playland is probably the king of dark rides now, besides Coney and Wildwood. They have the most in one area. Other great dark rides are Haunted Mansion at Rehoboth Beach, DE, (built by Bill Tracy's successor Jim Melonic in the late 70's) and the Haunted House (ride) and Pirate's Cove (walk) at Ocean City, MD both vintage early 60's Bill Tracy creations. All 3 still exist.  Bill Tracy also did work on the former Dorney Park dark rides as well as Wildwood like at Hunt's and Fun Piers. All gone. I rode a bunch of dark rides that no longer exist like at Dorney Park and Wildwood (Hunt's Pier, Castle Dracula, Fun Pier, etc.) I'm glad I was born in enough time (1974) to ride them and remember them before they passed away. I rode most of those in the early 80's. As for permenant walkthroughs open in the summer it's very slim pickings now. In NJ you now have Haunted Manor in Seaside but that's about it. Lake George, NY has a few (Dr. Morbid's Haunted House and House of Frankenstein) and Niagara Falls, Canada has several. There's also Ripley's Haunted Adventures in a few places including Myrtle Beach. Virginia Beach has a couple of haunted houses open in the summer. Orlando, FL has Skull Kingdom. Salem, MA has some as well.

[rjholla2003]

Well, then I hope that Shapiro takes a trip to Seaside to ride Stillwell Mansion while he's in Jersey for his visit.  I think we've got a great shot at getting a world class dark ride with Snyder/Shapiro in charge now.

[chilled182]

nothing will ever beat disneys haunted mansion in my eyes.

[68CamaroGuy]

I remember the haunted castle that was at gadv. I can say I walked through it a few times , and the actors did a great job scaring me. I was only 10yrs old at the time when I walked through it. As for the Brigantine castle  , been there and done that as well. That was the best haunted attraction I ever went through. Near the end it felt like you were walking on rats as you heard rat squeels.

[SFGAsue]

There's a guy on ebay (at this writing) who is selling both a video tape and a DVD about the Haunted Mansion fire.  I've been tempted to buy it in the past as he's sold them before, but wasn't sure how well done it was.  Has anyone from Updates bought one before??  Check it out...just type in Six Flags Great Adventure and you'll find it easily.  I think he's from Pine Beach or thereabouts.

[WadeJ]

We went through a bit of a ordeal with this guy back on the old Central site.  Its rather amateur at best and doesn't contain anything new.  I know a few people did buy it and were rather disappointed.

[SFGAsue]

Oh, OK thanks...I'll save my money!

[PcMan]

While viewing CycloneMan's video on Youtube I found these on the fire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QndKjUVG5mU

I never did go in the Castle those years, I never went to the park for some reason back then ?

[Ogolo]

I was in the Great Arena watching a "Golden Earing" concert when the Haunted House fire occurred.
We almost went into the Haunted House, but I didn't want to miss the show.
The park was handing out "free" tickets to return to the park...which I never used.
A night I'll never forget.  That was some thick black smoke!