Dracula's Castle, Wildwood NJ Boardwalk, 1991, Pt.2

[rwk360]

If you would have been in Wildwood ten years earlier than this, 1981, there would have been two castles-Castle Drac, as well as Castle Frankenstein on Fun Pier approx. where the Great White loading station is now. Frankenstein opened 1978 and closed mid-1982, and burned to the ground Aug 1984, it was completely destroyed like Castle Drac was on Jan 16, 2002. Morey's Pier also had a multi level Haunted House that was open from 1972 to 1984.

[rwk360]

I wish something like this would have been rebuilt. Even if it was on a different pier like Sportland. Morbid Manor is good but it doesn't have the size that Drac had. It's like a haunted house tucked away inside a building. Drac on the other hand stood out, and was visible for blocks. Some of the former old timer Drac actors from the 80's work for Morbid Manor now, like Colleen, Ed, and Anita. There's a second haunted house under construction on Sportland on the rear, it is opening this summer

[yayitzme123]

Haha know there's the Ghost Ship,that i'm NEVER going in again

[DivineTrash81]

Granted, it's been YEARS, but in my mind this was the best haunted attraction that I ever experienced. Consider that both portions (castle and dungeon) took about 30 minutes to complete. And those contracting walls freaked me the hell out as a kid.

[RedDragon0719]

Wow, what a treasure this video is. This is the only interior video online Ive seen. Im surprised they let you film but video cams werent popular then. 1991, that came mustve been huge ;) , well done

[Onneff69]

@RedDragon0719 Thanks, I appreciate that. It seems a lot of people are surprised they let me videotape, but there were no signs forbidding it - and they were actually very accomodating, as you say.

[666deadkennedy]

very good video its just a shame that it was from the crappy years Every person in it would have been sent to the dungeon i would never allowed shows like that

[rbford]

Great video, it really brings back the memories..thanks for posting this its hands down the best Castle Dracula video I have ever seen.

[Onneff69]

@rbford Thank you, rbford. Glad you liked it!

[coastermania17]

the guillotine part has me perplexed. does anyone know how they did that?

[Fitz229]

Awesome video. This brings back memories of going to the castle as a little kid, such a shame it's gone now. I also noticed how you drew attention just because you had a video camera, the guy in the castle even moved you to the front so you could get a better picture. Just shows how technology has changed and how common video cameras are nowadays.

[Onneff69]

@Fitz229 Yes, that guy was really nice and VERY accomodating. All of them were, in fact. I never asked for any special treatment and I actually felt guilty moving in front of other people - but even a lot of the people themselves made sure they didn't block the camera! Maybe it still being technically "off season" (early June) had something to do with it. I still wish the camcorder had better low light capability - especially since it was a very expensive model! Thanks for commenting!

[Onneff69]

@Onneff69 Come to think of it, maybe it was just the size & type of camcorder I had ?! ;)

[WayneT330]

Great Memories of this...was just down on the boardwalk yesterday for the first time in years and my friend and I both spoke of Draculas Castle,it is missed.Thanks so much for posting.

[pinoy8181]

i remember this when i went to wildwood in early 90s, thanks for posting

[ArttsySarah]

RIP , rest in pieces , dd

[adamv2]

Wow I was just at that very Macks last week, and it looks exactly the same today. Seriously, the pictures on the wall and everything are still in the same exact position.

[JunmaiShu]

Thanks, it's good to know it's still there, and that some things don't change.

I can't believe some kids torched this place. If only they knew all the good times they were sending up in smoke along with it, maybe they think twice about it? I was so sad when I heard the news.

[gglaw42]

Great memories here, been on this ride several times in the '70s, RIP.

[rwk360]

I feel like killing the son of a's that burned it. One of them posted on a different video about an RCT3 recreation of it his username is kickflipvictim. Now it seems like it will never be rebuilt because it seems that as of this year, the Nickels were "evicted" off the pier and Andy Weiner owner of Splash Zone (and Gateway 26) took over the front part of the pier and the Supercade is no more. At least there's the Ghost Ship, Morbid Manor, etc. which I might try next week on July 5 if we go.

[Tink101ist]

I really like the video. You did a great job. I have been going to Wildwood ever since I was a baby with my family. I would always chicken out on going into the castle. I would just wait for my dad and brother. The castle always gave me the willies. Now that it is no longer there I kinda wish I did not chicken out well thanks for doing the video!

[Onneff69]

@Tink101ist - You're welcome and thank YOU. :)

[colugino]

@Tink101ist Same here. I remember as a kid I couldn't even walk near the castle and always wondered what it was like inside. Thanks for posting this!!!

[Dannymac82]

Macks does have the bes pizza, and also Nice job on the video of Castle Dracula

[Onneff69]

@Dannymac82 Thanks Dannymac. ;) As to Mack's, I already knew it and was being "rhetorical". It's certinaly the most unique anyway. But also try SAM'S and FRANCONI'S - both VERY, very good (if you already haven't). :)

[Dannymac82]

@Onneff69 i have, Been a wildwood man my whole life :)

[lockguy34]

thank you for posting this this ride was my favorite when i went to wildwood in the 80,s as a kid ,brings back so many memories.

[Onneff69]

@lockguy34 You're welcome. Glad it brought back those memories for you!

[Onneff69]

Just a qucik note: these were transferred from the original _Hi8_ analog tape, imported into plain old Windows Movie Maker. Again, your monitor might have to be re-adjusted to be able to see ALL that the camera actually recorded - rather than just "black". ;)

[njbill]

Awesome video thanks for sharing

[Onneff69]

@njbill You're welcome. Happy you enjoyed it. ;)

[rwk360]

One of the times I went through with my brother, in Aug 1995 there were a bunch of obnoxious girls in the group and they were too scared to enter the blood lab. The lady in lab kept saying "get in here you mortal wenches!""you're pissing me off!" I have some audio recordings on tape walking through the castle a few times in Aug 1995 and June 1996 and the Dungeon boat, too. Those recordings are priceless now. You can hear all the speeches. In my opinion the dark rides back then were more macabre.

[rwk360]

Oh, some of the Castle Dracula artifacts that were saved are in the new haunted house on Sportland Pier opening this year. Eric Princz owner of the haunted house restored Shamron that was at the end of the Dungeon.

[rwk360]

Is it because the Morey's could afford to build a large scale haunt, but the Nickels could not afford plus they were in legal battle over ownership of the land? I believe this year the Nickels are getting kicked out by their lessees, Splash Zone Water Park because the Nickels lost the court case about that Splash Zone (Andrew Weiner) claimed that Nickels agreed to sell them the pier outright in 1999, not lease it to them. The Supercade is closing, Paul's Idaho Fries and Burger King are closing.

[Onneff69]

I can't confrim it, but the thought has been expressed that the Ghost Ship is the modern day "answer" to the old castle. Ahem. As to the "why" of rebuilding the latter, I'm only going by what I've read (and heard) from various sources over the years, i.e, mostly insurance reasons and money -- and also that it wouldn't be "hip" enough for more modern visitors anyway (whatever the hell that means, exactly).

[rwk360]

Seeing this makes me want to kill the two son of a's that took it away from us. It will most likely never be rebuilt. Even if it were, it would be different. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting this up. I miss the castle so bad. I haven't been to Wildwood since June, 1998. I was mad at the Golden Nugget Mine Ride closed in 1999, then castle fire Jan 2002. Are you a woman? Both videos show a woman with big round eyeglasses with thick lenses. Was she your friend?

[Onneff69]

@rwk360 No, I'm a guy. The woman is indeed my best friend; we were married 2 months later. ;) And, yes, I couldn't agree more about the vandals (two teens, not surprisingly). Unfortunately, by all accounts, there are NO plans to ever rebuild it (mostly due to the insurance companies of today - along with "sue-crazy" people. :(

I really do appreciate your comments. Thanks again!

[Onneff69]

Thank you, Utica; that's truly a great compliment! Much appreciated. I had the entire video accessable by only a certain Wildwood Board for a long time, but thought it would be nice to share at least the two Castle Dracula segments with all those Wildwood and/or "dark ride" fans out there. Hope you also looked at the Dungeon ride in Pt. 1. And my sincere thanks again. :)

[Utica681]

That was amazing. So glad there is a fully recorded castle dracula experience out there. (as well as Mack's pizza) This is a real youtube treasure.