Amusement Park News

The iconic coaster Great White is thrilling riders more than ever at Morey's Piers in Wildwood, N.J. The improvements began with Morey's purchase of new Millennium Flyer trains for the classic wooden coaster. The trains, purchased from Great Coasters International Inc., required additional updates to the ride. Great Coasters International is a leading manufacturer of roller coaster attractions worldwide.

Built by Custom Coasters and installed in 1996, Great White begins by taking riders into a steep descent through a tunnel beneath the boardwalk, then climbing a 110-foot lift hill before dropping 100 feet at a steep 50-degree angle. The coaster then veers off the boardwalk toward the beach, reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to experience the attraction.

Located on Adventure Pier, the classic ride offers a wide range of sensations, from the darkness of the tunnel to sweeping ocean views. The tunnel remains a signature element of the ride, along with three short airtime hills and the visually striking moment when the coaster swoops out over the beach. This layout was a creative solution to limited pier space.

Once the new trains were ordered, updates began in the fall of 2024 and continued through the pier's opening in May 2025 over Memorial Weekend, marking the start of the summer season.

Now, with all upgrades complete, Great White is once again thrilling guests on the same steep curves and dramatic drops, but with a noticeably smoother ride.



Morey's director of construction, Mike Granigan, says the updates were essential due to the arrival of the new trains. “Some of the changes had to be done to fit the modern trains on a 1996 wooden coaster,” he explains, adding that additional improvements were made because the team was already addressing other components. All of the work was completed by Great Coasters International Inc.

In many ways, one upgrade led naturally to another. The lift hill had to be rebuilt to accommodate the new trains. “While we were doing that, we decided to replace all the wood on the lift hill,” Granigan says.

That work opened the door to further improvements. While replacing the wood, the team took the opportunity to upgrade the trim braking system to magnetic brakes, which significantly smooth the ride. Once the brakes were changed, Granigan says the team also updated the control system.

Additional modifications were required at the queue line gates because the spacing of the new trains differs from the old ones. As a result, new gates were constructed.

Morey's also updated the ride's wooden transfer track. Great Coasters International replaced the old wood with new steel, making it easier to access and inspect the train wheels.

Train wings were extended higher to prevent passengers from reaching upward with outstretched arms, which can pose safety risks such as contact with support structures, track components, or other nearby objects.

For now, these updates represent the most recent phase of improvements. Granigan notes that the park continues to receive positive feedback from guests, particularly regarding how much smoother the ride feels.

Creating that smoother experience, he says, was the primary motivation behind the upgrades.

The original 1996 trains from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company consisted of six four-person cars, each with two axles that had to be pushed around the track. The new trains feature 12 two-passenger cars, each with its own independent axle that aligns more precisely with the track, resulting in a smoother ride.



That smoother operation also helps extend the life of both the trains and the track by reducing wear and tear and minimizing the need for extensive maintenance.

Maintenance remains an ongoing focus at Morey's two water parks. Will B. Morey, operations director for both Ocean Oasis and Raging Waters, says that once the summer season ends, teams turn their attention to off-season work, including removing sand from decks, a constant challenge due to the parks' beachfront location. In addition to sand, the salty sea air causes nuts, screws, and bolts that hold slides, towers, and pools in place to rust. Morey describes the process as “a never-ending effort” to keep the parks neat, tidy, and operating safely.

Founded in 1969, Morey's spans 18 acres and remains one of the largest collections of seaside amusement piers in the world. The park offers more than 100 rides and attractions, along with two beachfront water parks. Ride ticket packages for land and water attractions range from $92.06 to $243.96, covering 82 to 326 ride tickets and including bonus tickets. Ticket card packages can be shared among multiple guests.