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The period from 1884 to 1926 was the heyday of the
trolley lines, the height of steam travel, and the peak of interest in the "back to nature" movement. It was a time for spiritual renewal, when society was encouraged to enjoy family activities in the fresh air. Resorts served as an escape from summer's oppressive heat and offered a world of fun, fantasy, and fishing--a world far removed from the toils of the shop, the chores of the farm, or the everyday drudgery demanded by a labor intensive, pre-electric society. Rochester's Lakeside Resorts and Amusement Parks documents in over 200 photographs the development, dates, locations, and attractions that were a unique part of the rich history of each resort. Offering a window into yesterday, this book reveals many unusual facts about the area and features the fascinating characters who owned and operated the impressive hotels, boats, trolley lines, and amusement concessions.

Before Disneyland, Hunt's Pier was the premier destination for vacationing families and fun-seekers alike.

With the completion of the Garden State Parkway and a prospering society's increased mobility in the years following World War II, the Wildwoods transitioned from a remote barrier island along the southern New Jersey coast to a vacation mecca. Featuring free bathing beaches, state-of-the-art motels, endless nightlife, and a honky-tonk boardwalk lined with entertainment options of all kinds, the resort would thrive for the better part of the 20th century. During that golden era, Hunt's Pier became known as a fun-lover's paradise of themed custom attractions; whether it was a child challenging the Flyer roller coaster's intimidating plunge or a child-at-heart exploring the dark caverns of the Golden Nugget and the haunted decks of the pirate ship Skua, anyone who visited the Oceanic Wonderland wouldn't forget it. Hunt's Pier captures the magic of the famed seaside amusement park through historical photographs, many published here for the first time.