The biblical sand sculptures have been an Ocean City tourist attraction for over 40 years. Located on the beach in front of the Plim Plaza Hotel, they are one of the most photographed sites on the Boardwalk. Themes such as Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, Jesus on the Cross and the Last Supper inspire and… Read more »
Beefy’s was the first real fast food drive-through in Ocean City, opening in 1970. Located on Philadelphia Avenue between 17th and 18th streets, it preceded McDonald’s and other national chains by several years. Local kids made up over 80% of the help and for many this was their first job. A Beefy burger was the… Read more »
The Miami Court was the first motel in Ocean City. Built in 1948 by Ridge Harman Sr. on 22nd Street and Philadelphia Avenue, the site is now the parking lot for Fish Tales and Bahia Marina. The term motel comes from “motor-hotel.” A motel offered lower-priced accommodations in a less formal setting with “drive up… Read more »
Georgia native Jodie “Joe” Thrasher, Sr. came to Ocean City in 1930 to run a baseball pitching machine game in the Pier building. He didn’t begin his French fry stand until 1939 when he began cooking his fries in frying pans using cottonseed oil. When cottonseed oil became unavailable during World War II, Thrasher switched… Read more »
Surf mats were popular until boogie boards took over in the late 1970s and many a “baby boomer” learned to the ride the waves on the canvas-covered inflatables. Called “rafts” by the tourists, the locals always referred to them as “surf mats.” Many became quite adept at riding them while kneeling or, in rare cases,… Read more »
One of the joys of childhood in Ocean City for many was the chance to earn some spending money (usually spent in a pinball arcade) selling sea shells on the Boardwalk. Conch shells were the best sellers and could easily be found on Assateague before the opening of the Verrazano Bridge made public access to… Read more »
The Monticello Hotel was located on the southeast corner of 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue. It drew much of its clientele from visitors arriving by bus at the Trailways Station a block away. The Dinner Bell Restaurant occupied the ground floor of the four-story frame building and was one of Ocean City’s most popular restaurants… Read more »
In June 1990, Ocean City attempted to build the “world’s largest sandcastle” with hopes that it would make the Guinness Book of Records. Built on the beach at North Division Street, it was over 40 feet tall and was visible from the Route 50 Bridge. A light show was featured at night. The big castle… Read more »
Ocean City’s motel industry developed in the mid-1950s following the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the desire of young families for lodging that was casual, inexpensive and that offered easy on-site parking. Within a decade, the vacant land between 15th and 33rd streets became known as “Motel Row.” Motel Row grew from a… Read more »
The building known today as City Hall served as Ocean City High School beginning in 1917. Its first graduating class had only seven students — proof that Ocean City was indeed a small town in those days. The first school bus was built by Hugh T. Cropper Sr. on a used Ford Model-T chassis in… Read more »