From Slides to Surf Machines: Wildwood’s Splash Zone Goes Up for Bid

Issue #514

November 13, 2025

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

💦From Slides to Surf Machines: Wildwood’s Splash Zone Goes Up for Bid

👮 Beach Towns May Soon Have to Open the Books on Access Fees

🕮NJ Beach Town Split Over Plan to Join County Library System

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Cape May Antiques

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 November 13

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From Slides to Surf Machines: Wildwood’s Splash Zone Goes Up for Bid

After more than two decades as a staple of summertime fun in Wildwood, Splash Zone Waterpark is officially entering its final chapter. On Tuesday, December 9, the beloved attraction’s entire inventory will go to public auction, allowing buyers to claim everything from towering water slides to life jackets and concession stands.

The auction, hosted online by HyperAMS via BidSpotter, kicks off at 10:00 a.m. Eastern and marks the end of the park's 26-year run. Located at 3500 Boardwalk, Splash Zone was a vibrant hub for family entertainment and one of only two waterparks in the city.

Though the park is closing, the property itself isn’t disappearing. Officials say a new Boardwalk attraction is planned for the site, but no formal announcement has been made.

As Wildwood looks to the future, the auction stands as a symbolic—and literal—dismantling of a summer icon. For those who spent their childhoods or family vacations at Splash Zone, this is a final chance to own a piece of that cherished past.

 Beach Towns May Soon Have to Open the Books on Access Fees

 A new legislative proposal in New Jersey could pull back the curtain on how beach towns manage the money they collect through beach badge sales. If passed, the bill would require coastal municipalities to detail their beach-related expenses and revenue in publicly accessible documents.

Under the proposal, municipalities would be obligated to include a full breakdown of beach-related financial activity in their public access plans.

That means everything from last season’s operational costs—like maintenance and staffing—to total revenue from badge sales and other beach income sources would have to be laid out clearly. The legislation also mandates forecasts for upcoming seasonal costs, and if a town ends up with extra money, it must explain how that surplus will be used.

While the new law wouldn’t interfere with how towns actually run their beaches, it would require them to justify and clarify the financial side of beach management. The information would become part of each town’s master plan, providing a permanent record accessible to the public and regulators.

The requirement would apply to any New Jersey municipality that owns and operates a beach and charges access fees—regardless of the town’s size or beach popularity. If enacted, the reporting rules would kick in immediately.

This move comes amid ongoing debates about public access and beach affordability, aiming to ensure beachgoers and residents alike know exactly where their money is going when they pay for a day at the shore.

 

NJ Beach Town Split Over Plan to Join County Library System

 A proposed annexation involving the local library system has become a flashpoint of debate in a popular New Jersey beach town, dividing residents and local officials over concerns of cost, control, and community identity. At the latest Stone Harbor City Council meeting, a significant development stirred public attention: the borough is now seriously considering a departure from the Cape May County Library System.

At the heart of the issue is a proposal to bring the town’s independent library under the larger umbrella of the county library system. Supporters of the move argue that annexation would provide access to broader resources, funding, and services that the county system offers—everything from expanded digital media to additional programming and staffing.

However, opponents are raising red flags about what could be lost in the process. For many, the local library isn’t just a place to borrow books—it’s a community cornerstone with deep roots and personalized services. There’s concern that annexation would mean losing local autonomy, with decisions on operations, hours, and programming shifted to county-level administrators unfamiliar with the town's unique needs.

With no formal agreement in place yet, the debate shows no signs of cooling. What started as a procedural discussion has quickly escalated into a larger conversation about local governance, fiscal responsibility, and the role of small-town institutions in an increasingly centralized world.

 

Which building in Cape May was designed by architect Stephen Decatur Button and became one of his most well-known works in the city?

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Answer to the November 12th Trivia Question

Which event in Cape May's history led to the rapid development of the city as a major resort destination in the 19th century?

A) The completion of the Cape May Lighthouse
B) The opening of the Tuckahoe and Cape May Railroad
C) The establishment of Cape May as a borough
D) The hosting of the first national beach volleyball tournament

Answer: B) The opening of the Tuckahoe and Cape May Railroad

The opening of the Tuckahoe and Cape May Railroad in 1863 significantly boosted tourism in Cape May, leading to its development as a major resort destination​.

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