About Ocean City
America's Greatest Family Resort

The resort of Ocean City, NJ is known by all as America's Greatest Family Resort. Ocean City has been a popular, family-orientated sea-side resort for over a century. Vacationers can be assured that their visit to Ocean City, NJ will be perfect from start to finish. Over the years, Ocean City has strived to give you and your family the greatest vacation in " America 's Greatest Family Resort".

Situated in the northern part of the Jersey Cape, Ocean City is less than a 20 minute drive to the Atlantic City Casinos and night spots. Accommodations are available to suit everyone's needs, ranging from luxurious oceanfront suites, modern condominiums, spacious apartments, and beautiful motel and efficiency rooms to quaint Bed and Breakfast Inns.

Finding a restaurant will not be a problem in Ocean City . Dozens of fine eating establishments can be found from the waterfront to the boardwalk and everywhere in- between. From lobster to pizza you will find something to satisfy your craving. Ocean City is proud of eight miles of pristine beaches, three miles of exciting boardwalk and its wholesome family atmosphere. Fill your days on water-boating, fishing, jet skiing or floating in the surf. Take a bike ride with the family, or play a game of miniature golf or enjoy a leisurely stroll on the boardwalk. The fun and excitement do not end as night falls. Gorgeous sunsets, amusement rides for all ages, and a wide variety of shops are just a few of the activities awaiting the vacationer each night.

Ocean City is proud of its more than 20 public tennis courts, 12-hole golf course, airport, Arts Center and Historic Museum . The Ocean City Music Pier, built in 1928, has been the center of activity for residents and vacationers for generations. Concerts, from classical to rock, are held in this beautifully refurbished music center throughout the summer season.

                


A Brief History of Ocean City

In 1700, whaler John Peck began using the barrier island as a place where he and his men could put their fresh caught whales while they went out searching for more. The island eventually became known as Peck’s Beach. After Peck’s inhabitation, the island had a few purposes: it was an Indian summer fishing camp, a place for cattle to graze and sometimes mainlanders would boat over for a picnic or to hunt. The Somers family originally owned the land and several other families lived there including Parker Miller. In the mid 19th Century, it was Parker Miller and his family that became the first year-round residents of the island. The Millers lived at what is now the corner of Seventh Street and Asbury Avenue. Parker worked as an agent for marine insurance companies, raised cattle and farmed the land that was known as Peck’s Beach. It was almost 30 years later when the Ocean City we know today was born.

In 1879, four Methodist ministers (Ezra B. Lake, James Lake, S.Wesley Lake and William Burrell) purchased Peck’s Beach to make it a Christian seaside resort and camp meeting place. The men came together under a cedar tree (which still stands at Sixth and Asbury) and formed the Ocean City Association after the name they chose for their newly acquired land, Ocean City. The group laid out the streets and sold lots for commercial and residential uses. They built the Tabernacle that still stands today between Fifth and Sixth Streets and Asbury Avenue. Camp meetings began the following summer. That’s all it took to for Ocean City to begin its life as the wonderful barrier island by the sea. Homes, hotels, bridges, railroads and schools were soon built. The boardwalk that is treasured today was not only built but rebuilt several times, as natural disasters kept wreaking havoc on the structure.

In 1901, the legendary Sindia ship came close to the shore and sunk under the sea, with part of its mast remaining above the ocean to the delight of everyone that passed by for a glimpse. It only recently went completely underwater (with all its cargo and treasures) permanently between 16th and 17th streets.

Part of the original four’s wish that Ocean City remain a pure retreat that exemplified the Christian mindset still remains today as strong as the cedar tree they first met under. Ocean City is a dry town—there is no public drinking anywhere on the island. Residents and tourists alike seem to appreciate this law that sets the island apart from any of its surrounding towns.

Quick Facts About Ocean City

BASIC BEACH INFORMATION:
Ocean City features eight miles of beautiful beaches. During the summer, you must have a beach badge to use the beach. Beach badges are regularly Season Tags Beginning June 1, 2008: $20.00, Weekly Tags: $10.00, Daily Tags: $5.00 and can be purchased at the following locations:

    -Music Pier - Boardwalk Each Day 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
    -City Hall - 9th and Asbury Mon to Fri 9 am to 4 pm
    -46th and West Avenue Weekends 9:30 am to 3:30 pm 
    -Municipal Airport - 26th and Bay Each Day 8 am to 4 pm

Public Restrooms
Public restrooms are located at 1st, 6th, 12th, 34th, and 58th Streets at the beach, as well as in the Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. Bath houses and changing facilities are also available.

Dogs Prohibited on Boardwalk
Dogs are not allowed AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR on the Boardwalk or any platform or ramp associated. This includes carrying or transporting a dog in any manner. (87-17, 11-4.4a).

Dogs Prohibited on Beach During Certain Times
Dogs are not allowed on the beach from May 1 through September 30. Dogs are permitted on the beach on a leash from October 1 to April 30. Owners must clean up after their dogs. (87-17, 11-4.4b)

Surf Chair Program; Beach Accessible Wheelchairs
Surf chairs” and “beach buggies” are beach accessible wheelchairs for use by anyone with a mobility-limiting disability. The City of Ocean City provides this service free, and the program is partly funded by your donations. Surf Chairs may be reserved for up to two weeks or can be used on a daily basis. Reservations are recommended. Ramps are located on 1st, 6th, 12th, and between 34th & 59th Street beaches have surf chair service available for transportation to desire beach locations only.

             -Hours: 9:00 am to 5:30 PM Weekends ( check in 5:00 PM)
             -Location: Sports & Civic Center, 6th Street & Boardwalk
             -Phone: 609-525-9304 OR (609) 399-1989
             -Availability: Memorial Day- September


RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED
Surf Chair Rules: Surf chairs are not to be used on the boardwalk, sidewalk, or street while occupied. They are not to be used to transport beach supplies and should be stored indoors overnight or placed out of view and covered. The weight limit is 250 pounds. The chairs are built for the surf, but must not exceed six (6) inches in the water. Surf chairs are not to be transported out of Ocean City. They are to be transported using a suitable vehicle. The chairs do not collapse and are not to be tied on tops of cars. All chairs are considered to be in 100% good condition upon your taking possession unless otherwise stated by the attendant. Any chair returned to the Civic Center in less than 100% condition will be subject to a flat fee of $50 for repair or replacement of parts.

Beach & Water Safety
Tragic water accidents happen quickly. The most common reason for aquatic mishaps is a lack of safety knowledge. The Ocean City Department of Public Safety recommends the following safety tips:

• Learn to swim
• Swim near a lifeguard
• Never swim alone
• Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present
• Don’t rely on flotation devices such as rafts; you may lose them in the water
• If caught in a rip current, swim sideways until free; don’t swim against the current’s pull
• Alcohol and swimming don’t mix
• Protect your head, neck and spine - don’t dive into unfamiliar waters - feet first, first time
• If you are in trouble, call or wave for help
• Follow regulations and lifeguard directions
• Swim parallel to the shore if you wish to swim long distances
• Report hazardous conditions to lifeguards or other beach management personnel
• Never turn your back to the ocean - you may be swept off coastal bluffs or tide pool areas and into the water by waves that come without warning.
  

LOCAL PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS

North Street & Haven Avenue
Basketball court, volleyball court, playground

6th Street & Atlantic Avenue
14 tennis courts, 3 basketball courts, 4 volleyball courts, shuffleboard courts, playground, football/soccer field & 400 meter track (Carey Stadium)

6th Street & Bay Avenue
3 baseball/softball fields, soccer field, playground

8th Street & Haven Avenue
Basketball court, playground

15th Street & Bay Avenue
2 basketball courts, playground

Tennessee Avenue Soccer Complex
Soccer fields

29th Street & West Avenue
Playground

34th Street & Asbury Avenue
2 basketball courts, playground

34th Street & West Avenue
8 tennis courts

35th Street & Haven Avenue
2 baseball fields

52nd Street & Haven Avenue
Basketball court, street hockey rink, playground

LOCAL RECREATION CENTERS
            Sports & Civic Center: 6th & the Boardwalk- (609) 525-9304
            Carey Stadium (Football Field & Track): 6th & Atlantic Ave.
            Basketball Courts: North, 6th, 8th, 15th, 34th, & 52nd Streets
            Playgrounds: North, 5th, 8th, 15th, 29th, 34th, & 52nd Streets
            6th Street Youth Center: 6th & Atlantic Ave.
            8th Street Recreation Center: 8th & Haven Ave.


            Aquatic & Fitness Center: 18th & Simpson Ave. (609) 398-6900
            Bayside Center: 520 Bay (609) 525-9244
            Soccer Complex: Tennessee Ave.
            Public Golf Course: 26th & Bay Ave. (609 525-9233
            Public Boat Ramp: Tennessee Ave.
            Shuffleboard Courts: 5th & Boardwalk- (609) 525-9853
            Tennis Courts: (14) at 6th & Atlantic Ave. & (8) 34th & West Ave.

OCEAN CITY STREET MAP







Get Connected - Important Local Phone Numbers

City Services

• Animal Control - (609) 399-9115
• Beach Patrol - (609) 525-9202
• Chamber of Commerce - (609) 399-1412
• City Clerk - (609) 525-9324
• Humane Society - 609-399-2018
• Post Office - 609-399-0475
• Public Library - 609-399-2434
• Municipal Court - 609-525-9386
• Recycling Center - 609-525-9261
• Planning and Zoning Office - 609-525-9371
• Tax Office - 609-525-9379
• Environmental Office - 609-525-9331
• Community Services - 609-525-9300
• Beach Patrol - 609-525-9202

Entertainment

• Aquatic and Fitness Center - (609) 398-6900
• Art Center - (609) 399-7628
• Pops Orchestra - 609-398-9585
• Music Pier - 609-525-9248
• Historical Museum - 609-399-1801
• Golf Course - 609-399-1315
• Sports and Civic Center - 609-525-9304

Emergency

• 24 Hour Police non-emergency - (609) 399-9111
• 24 Hour Fire non-emergency - (609) 525-9182
• Police and Fire Emergency - 911
• Office of Emergency Management - 609-399-0202

Miscellaneous

• Airport - (609) 399-0907
• Bayside Center - (609) 525-9244
• Transportation Center - 609-398-9030

Organizations

• Rotary Club - 609-390-0611
• Kiwanis International - 609-884-8888
• V.F.W. Post 6650 - 609-391-8660

Schools

• Board of Education - 609-399-5150
• Primary School - 609-399-3191
• Intermediate School - 609-399-5611
• High School - 609-399-1290
  
  

PLACES OF INTEREST

BEACHCOMBERS
Do you know what kind of shells you are picking up on the beach? For some help, take a guided nature walk on a dune path to the beach in Corson's Inlet State Park. The volunteers for the Beachwalk program will help you to see the beach in new and different ways as they pass on their knowledge of sand and water, birds and sealife. Each guide has a specialty, and many people take the walk over and over, just to hear what different guides have to say. More then 20,000 people have done the walk!

Beachwalks are given in July and August on Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 p.m. and on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The walks start at the south and on Central Avenue, where Corson's Inlet State Park begins. The cost is $1.00 for adults and $.50 for children. The tours last for about an hour. Reservations are not necessary and the walks go unless there is lightning.


CORSON'S INLET
After looking at so many little box houses you will come upon a flash green meadows and blue water which will refresh you. Corson's Inlet is a State Park. It's a haven for fishermen to huddle along the causeway to catch crabs and estuary dwellers. There is a small boat ramp and beach and parking off the road. Be careful exploring undergrowth, as it is filled with poison ivy. Stick to the marked trails to help protect the fragile dune environment.


OCEAN CITY TABERNACLE
The Ocean City Tabernacle is one of the largest tourist destinations in Ocean City. It is rapidly becoming a year round operation as a center for conferences, special concerts and retreats. The main auditorium holds over one thousand people and boasts one of the best sound and lighting systems in the area. The Tabernacle is a nondenominational summer church featuring some of the greatest preachers in the world. During the summer season it hosts many of the most well known and popular speakers in the country, which are accompanied by musicians of the finest caliber. There is a dynamic children's ministry program that address the needs of children from the cradle thorough grade six. Look for special midweek events geared for this age group as well as programs for adults. The Tabernacle has won a number of awards from the local and county Chamber of Commerce and state assembly recognizing us as the most beautiful site on the entire island. In the evening the lighted historic bell tower fountain is breathtaking.


THE BAYSIDE CENTER
520 Bay Avenue Ocean City
Far magnificent sunsets in the relaxed atmosphere of the bay, visit the Bayside Center. This 1.9 acre property with its vintage 1910 home is owned by Cape May County and operated by the City of Ocean City as a recreational, environmental and historical facility. The ambiance is relaxed, but the activities are many. Open everyday to the public during the summer, the house has an environmental education center, a lifesaving museum, a display of classic ship models by master model maker Stephen Hutsko, and other attractions improvements to the house in 1999 include three floors of reconstructed bayfront porches and an elevator to a third floor observation area.

The environmental Bayside Camp for children is located in the garage on the grounds, and the Ocean City marine police are headquarters in the former pool house. Picnic tables, a pavilion for shade, docks for short-term docking, restrooms, and a butterfly garden round out the outdoors amenities.
Bayside Center is the best place to watch the annual Night in Venice parade, according to hundreds who buy tickets for a seat each year. Other events take place Memorial Day Weekend and in September, when kayaks gather. A large room on the second floor of the house provides meeting room for groups up to 40 in number, and it is used all year.

For information on the children's summer camp, call (609) 525-9294. During the summer, call the Bayside Center phone at (609) 525-9244 for hours and special programs.


THE BOARDWALK
Every trip to Ocean City should include a stroll along the Boardwalk. We have one of the last true boardwalks along the Jersey Shore, and it's block after block of fun and excitement! We've got classic attractions and new additions that will put a smile on every visitor's face. The boardwalk is just over 2 miles long.

THE FRIENDS' OF OCEAN CITY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
1735 Simpson Avenue
Ocean City, NJ 08226
(609) 399-1801
e-mail: OCNJHISTMUSEUM@aol.com

A history museum depicting early Ocean City's history with period room displays and vintage clothing, a large display of old Ocean City photographs and postcards, dolls and toys. The Sindia room features a scale model of Ocean City's most famous shipwreck and a lighted 8 x 8' stained glass window showing the Sindia under sail. Many photographs, the original figurehead, china and other atifacts from the ship depict a story of the Sindia's journey at sea and subsequent grounding. Throughout the year, the museum features special exhibits and during the summer, special Thursday evening programs. The museum's gift and consignment shop has an eclectic assortment of items for all ages.

Hours:  Summer( May-Oct.) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon-Fri; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, extra hours July and August Thursday 4 p.m-7 p.m
Winter( Nov.-April ) 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday

This page is only an overview of the many attractions and activities of Ocean City. Please continue to the numerous pages we have provided within this site to fully experience all that Ocean City has to offer such as pages dedicated to shopping, restaurants, amusements and other activities!