10/31/2025
The 2025 season has slowly wound down to a full stop. It was a very strange season indeed. It was characterized by change seen in the form of a continued attack on the motel and the once common rooming houses. Demolitions were seen in the double digits throughout the City of Wildwood and other WW communities.
Fortunately, most demolished structures were almost immediately replaced by new vinyl multi story structures. Where this sequence does generate increased ratables for local property tax purposes, it continues to est away at the old traditional residences which many of our memories are based.
Along with each building lost, a change in our tourist demographics occurs. As our motel accomodations are disappearing, so too are the traditionally common “Day Trippers” being lost. Additionally, the week long tourists are becoming fewer, as they elect shorter stays of 3-4 days. The weekends were extremely strong this season, spawning the Thursday thru Sunday tripper.
If it weren’t for the frequrnt forecasts of poor weekend weather in the early start of the season, which actually resulted in little to no rainfall, the pre-season would have been half decent.
The decision on the part of the Morey’s Piers Organization to not open Easter weekend meant an economic disaster for the remainder of the boardwalk vendors. Instead, the Wildwood tourist economy had to remain dormant until Mother’s Day when the first amusement rides opened up. Sadly, this is what has happened since the five family owned piers have changed ownership and otherwise gone out of business, leaving one monopoly amusement ownership in control.
Hopefully, the amusement owners will reconsider early openings of the piers to allow the Wildwood communities to awaken earlier in the year.
I want to close with a reminder that the City of Wildwood Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting ceremony will occur on Friday at 6:30 PM 05 Dec this year. The parade lined up along Central Avenue North of 16th Street. The parade starts off at 6:30 heading south on Central Avenue, turning into Pacific Avenue at 26th Street. It passes Byrne Plaza and turns on Spicer Avenue to New Jersey Avenue and ends at the Plaza. The parade is followed by the tree lighting ceremony.
This entire weekend is chocked full of festive seasonal activities all over the Cape May area. I encourage you and your families to consider joining us at the parade, which kicks the wetland off to a start.
In closing, I want to thank each and everyone of you for supporting small businesses like Magnolia Patking & Bike Rentals. It’s sad to see how the dozens of family operated bike rentals, that existed in the 1960’s, have dwindled down to the twelve remaining today.
I hope that you are able to visit the Wildwoods in the off season and perhaps see the Magnolia Bike Rental Christmas Parade surrey entries! Have a safe, warm and healthy winter and we will hopefully see you in the 2026 season!
Happy Holidays to All,
from the Eyster Family at
Magnolia Bikes