Trimper's Rides facts for kids
Trimper's Rides from the boardwalk
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| Slogan | Fun is What We're All About |
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| Location | Ocean City, Maryland |
| Opened | 1893 |
| Previous names | Windsor Resort |
| Operating season | April-Late October |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 43 (31 Outdoor Rides) |
| Roller coasters | 2 |
| Water rides | 0 |
Trimper's Rides is a historic amusement park located near the inlet at South First Street and the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, United States. It was founded in 1893 as The Windsor Resort. It is located at the south end of the boardwalk, where it consists of a year-round indoor facility, The Haunted House (which resides on its own lot on the Boardwalk strip), and two outdoor lots.
History
Daniel B. Trimper and his wife, Margaret, arrived in Ocean City in 1890. By 1893 they were owners of boardwalk property between South Division and South First Streets, including two hotels: The Eastern Shore and the Sea Bright.
Rebuilding the Sea Bright in 1900 following a severe storm, the Trimpers modeled the new structure on Great Britain's Windsor Castle. The two hotels together with a theater and an amusement park thus became known as Windsor Resort.
A 1912 purchase also adds to the historic significance of Trimper's Rides. It was that year that Daniel Trimper purchased a massive carousel from the Herschell-Spillman Company in North Tonawanda, NY. It was 50 feet in diameter with a uniqueness derived from the only other carousel made by the firm at that time having been sent to Coney Island, and that one was later destroyed by fire.
The carousel's forty-five animals, three chariots and one rocking chair were driven by a steam engine; rides originally cost just a nickel. One-hundred years later, the ride (now electrified) costs four tickets, or $2.00. Classified as one of the oldest still operating carousels in the nation, the carousel includes a standing and jumping menagerie of standing and jumping horses, a mule, a zebra, a cat, a dog, a pig, a frog, a rooster, a rabbit, a deer, a lion, a tiger, an ostrich, a camel, a giraffe, and a dragon.
Over the years the Trimpers added numerous rides; several of these rides also offer historic significance such as a kiddie carousel which is smaller and dates to the 1920s as does a kiddie ferris wheel. All the rides are kept in working condition.
In the 1950s the Trimper family added outdoor rides. The pace of expansion has increased since the mid-1960s with a new ride being added nearly year after year. The most popular ride in the outdoor park was bought in 1985: the triple loop boomerang "Tidal Wave" roller coaster. Other action favorites, among the 35 or more rides in the park, are the Rock & Roll Matterhorn and Himalaya, although parents with smaller children like the ones they can ride together, such as the colorful Balloon ride. The many games have their aficionados, as well, with stuffed animal prizes awarded to the winners at Frog Bog and Whac-A-Mole.
Trimper's seven children and their descendants have also played roles in Ocean City's political life and other businesses. Trimper's son, Daniel, Jr., managed Windsor Resort Corporation after his father's death, and served as Mayor of Ocean City for 16 years. In 1965, WWII veteran, Daniel Trimper III, was handed leadership of the park and nearly doubled its size with the purchase of the land and attractions of Melvin Amusements. In 1964, Granville Trimper teamed up with Bill Tracy to create the Haunted House with scare technology and novel artistry that is Tracy's signature style. Five year's later, John and Maria Bilous wire hired to restore the cherished Herschell-Spillman Carousel to its formal glory. The last big change of the park for decades to come was the addition of Tidal Wave. Dan Trimper III ran a profitable amusement park until 1981 when he retired. After Dan Trimper III retired his cousin Granville Trimper and family took over the day to day operations until 2020.
The Rides
The Indoor Area contains most of the rides for younger kids. It plays host to a collection of vintage amusement park memorabilia and paraphernalia, ranging from antique ticket booths, to operating antique rides. The main attractions inside this part of the building are:
- A large collection of operating vintage William F. Mangels kiddie rides
- A circa 1912 Herschell-Spillman Carousel with a menagerie of horses, a zebra, a dragon, a rooster, and other animals and three chariots
- A Bumper Car ride
- A Shooting Gallery
The park's dark ride, "The Haunted House", was built by Bill Tracy in 1964 as a 1-level attraction on a lot facing the boardwalk strip. The ride was later expanded on when nearby Playland Park closed, leaving their own Tracy dark ride, "Ghost Ship", up for grabs. Trimper's incorporated the tricks from the ride by adding a second level to the ride, making it twice as long. The ride was originally believed to have opened in 1962, but after the recent discovery of correspondence linked to the ride, its actual opening year was discovered to be two years later. The ride was said to be Granville Trimper's favorite.
The two outdoor areas, where most of the major rides are located, are open during the summer season. One area is still owned by the former management. Among the rides are:
- "The Tidal Wave", a 126 ft (38 m) tall looping roller coaster
- "Pirates Cove", a Bill Tracy designed walk-through fun house; one of only two left in the world
- A Mirror Maze
- "Spinning Coaster", a family roller coaster
- "The Rock N Roll", a Matterhorn ride
- The Endeavor "thrill ride"
- Inlet Eye, A 155 Foot Ferris Wheel
- Himalaya
- Rock N Roll
Status
The park began to experience troubled times during the 2007 season. The Carousel House/indoor area was made a historic landmark in 2007. Park owner Granville Trimper died in October 2008, leaving the park in his family's hands. The park opened for the 2009 season under a joint management of Granville's relatives. The park is now operated by the 5th generation of Trimpers.
Events
During the 2020 Season, Trimpers added new events to bring people in. Some of these included karaoke nights, DJ nights, car shows, bike shows & more.
During Halloween, Trimpers had a children’s hay maze and costume contests.
Trimpers has an event room for birthday parties, meetings, corporate parties, and more!
Jim Futrell (2008). Amusement Parks of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Stackpole Books.
