I'm feeling quite numb at this moment - I've just read the press release announcing the fate of The Golden Nugget Mine Ride... the words I've been dreading for the last decade have finally been written and I'm broken hearted by it's finality. Despite our passion for this ride and our collective hope that she would be saved, I always knew it would come to this and our dreams of riding her once more will never come true. I may sound dramatic, but this one really hurts.
The Golden Nugget was the matriarch on Hunt's Pier. I can't even imagine walking north down the boardwalk and not seeing our old friend, with those two yawning eyes that seemed to follow you on your way towards Poplar Avenue. I speak from my heart when I say that if given the choice, I would rather see it remain in a dilapidated state than not to see it at all, but I know that's unrealistic. I have a great respect for the Morey Family and for all the joy they've offered us over the years and appreciate that they, in turn, respect their patrons enough to offer a public ceremony in honor of this revered ride; something they certainly had no obligation to do. And so like the beloved Hunt's rides that went before... the Skua... the Whackyshack... Jungleland... the Flyer... this will be a great loss for us who treasured this dark ride, for the Golden Nugget truly was, a Golden Nugget on the Wildwood Boardwalk.
The ceremony will be held on Saturday, January 31 at 12 noon.
