An impossible lifetime of lights, laughter, and a carousel that never rests.
A Quiet Shore
I was just a young boy when I first set foot on this sand, back when Ocean City was little more than a stretch of shoreline dotted with a few wooden structures. I can recall standing with my toes buried in the cool grains, gazing out at the gentle waves while my father and mother shook hands with two bright-eyed newcomers. Their names were Daniel and Margaret Trimper, and though I was only a child, I sensed their excitement for a new life by the sea.
By 1890, the Trimpers had purchased their first property in Ocean City, quickly turning heads in what was then a modest beach town. A year later, they opened two small hotels called the Eastern Shore and the Sea Bright. The boardwalk was, at that time, a curious setup: every morning, locals laid down wooden planks so visitors could stroll above the sand, then collected them each evening. Even so, Daniel believed this could be more than a seaside afterthought. He was convinced Ocean City would one day draw travelers from far and wide.
Storm And Resolve
My parents and I visited whenever we could, nibbling on saltwater taffy and looking out at seagulls gliding over the surf. Daniel was always abuzz with ideas, billiards, boxing matches, a shooting gallery, and, if the rumors were true, even a gambling den. Some folks whispered he kept a live alligator for show. I never did see that creature, but the story alone made me shiver with delight.
In 1900, a storm as fierce as any we had seen roared onto the beach, battering both buildings and hearts. I was barely a teenager then, old enough to grab a hammer but not quite old enough to grasp the gravity of the losses. Ocean City took a real thrashing. Yet Daniel never let disaster dampen his resolve. He rebuilt the damaged hotels in the likeness of Windsor Castle, naming the property the Windsor Resort. Soon, a theater and an assortment of amusements brought renewed life to the shoreline. Locals teased him about creating his own fortress by the sea, but Daniel only smiled and pressed forward.
The Carousel’s Debut
By 1912, I was a young man, and in walked a new wonder: a glorious 50-foot carousel from the Herschell Spillman Company. It boasted hand-carved animals, a kaleidoscope of lights, and a band organ whose tunes drifted across the sand. I will never forget riding it on its grand debut with a girl named Clara, who later became my wife. She wore her best summer dress, and I could not decide which was more enchanting, the carved lions or the sparkle in her eyes.
In 1933, another brutal storm reshaped Ocean City entirely, carving out a permanent inlet and drawing more visitors than ever. By then, Clara and I had a small family of our own, and we often brought our children to see what new invention Daniel had conjured. The once-humble boardwalk expanded further, hosting small shops and a growing variety of amusements. Everywhere you turned, you could hear the hum of new construction and the bubbling excitement of a town on the rise.
Mid-Century Magic
Time, like the tide, never stood still. By the 1950s, my children were racing along the boardwalk, eager to ride the Kiddie Carousel or tilt their heads back on the Ferris Wheel. Carnival barkers enticed passersby with Frog Bog and the .22 Caliber Range, and the aroma of funnel cakes teased us at every corner. I cherished those warm summer nights when we strolled together in a swirl of neon lights and ocean breeze, pockets jingling with arcade tokens.
Then came the influence of Bill Tracy in the 1960s and 1970s. He introduced the Haunted House, a delightfully spooky attraction where skeletons swung down at unsuspecting riders. Not long after, the Pirate’s Cove funhouse arrived, featuring tilted floors and hidden blasts of air that had us fumbling in the dark while giggling uncontrollably. I was no youngster by then, but I ventured in once, letting out a yelp when a rickety skeleton swung down from the ceiling. Even now, I laugh at how my knees nearly gave out.
Thrills of the 80’s
The 1980s brought a new kind of excitement. Trimper’s unveiled a towering roller coaster called the Tidal Wave, the tallest Ocean City had ever seen. My grandchildren convinced me to ride it with them, and though my bones protested every click of that chain lift, I could not deny the rush of adrenaline. Afterwards, we wandered around the Inlet Village shops, popping our heads into small stores before settling down at Harbour Watch for a bite. I recall that evening fondly: the crimson glow across the bay as the sun slowly sank behind it, my grandchildren beaming, and the hum of the boardwalk in the distance. In that moment, I realized that the generations were stacking up just like those old wooden planks had, each one supporting the next.
The years trickled into decades, and before I knew it, 2018 had arrived. Trimper Rides was celebrating 125 years of continuous family ownership. A hush fell over the crowd during the anniversary ceremony, followed by a burst of cheering, laughter, and confetti that lit up the sky. The carousel that had once carried Clara and me so many years ago still turned, echoing a century’s worth of memories. My grandchildren, who now had children of their own, rolled me closer so I could see the painted horses up close. Their vibrant colors had survived the wear of time, just as I had.
Embracing The Future
Two years later, in 2020, fresh leadership stepped forward, determined to preserve Daniel’s original spirit while wholeheartedly embracing modernization. They resurrected old favorites like the Tilt A Whirl, introduced the towering OC Big Wheel, and unveiled a new electronic Thrill Swipe Pass system. Although it seemed a world apart from the days of rolling up boardwalk planks, I marveled at how Trimper’s could blend its storied past with the new era so seamlessly.
Now, as I pass the century mark in my own life, I find myself sitting on a bench most days, watching families create the same memories I hold so dear. The Herschell Spillman carousel still enchants visitors with hand-carved creatures, Pirate’s Cove still sparks gleeful screams, and the Tidal Wave still rattles the nerves of those brave enough to ride. And every so often, I look up at the sky, recalling that at dawn the sun climbs over the Atlantic, and by dusk it sinks across the bay in a glorious blaze of color. It is a fitting reminder that life has a rhythm, just like the tides and the carousel’s spinning lights.
A Timeless Reflection
Storms, expansions, and decades of evolution have molded Trimper Rides into the treasure it is today. Daniel and Margaret’s dream took root in Ocean City’s sand and flourished, living on through generations of laughter and memories. Though my hair has turned silver and my step has slowed, I still savor the atmosphere of funnel cake and salt air that wafts over these boards. Here, among the bright bulbs and the distant surf, I am forever that wide-eyed child discovering the magic of a carousel for the very first time.
Yes, this is an impossibly long life I have led, but I would not trade it for anything. With each ride that takes off, each game that is played, and each swirl of the band organ’s tune, Trimper Rides invites a new wave of memories to be born. It remains an anchor for those of us who have seen it all, and a lighthouse for those who have yet to discover the endless wonder waiting just steps from the sand.
Signed,
A Seasoned Voyager
Today, Trimper Rides stands as America’s longest-running family-owned amusement park—a living slice of Ocean City history that blends old-world attractions with newfangled thrills, all under the same beachy skies that first bewitched Daniel and Margaret Trimper over a century ago.
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