Cape May's SS Atlantus: From Wartime Experiment to Local Curiosity

In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

 ⚓ Cape May's SS Atlantus: From Wartime Experiment to Local Curiosity

‍‍‍🎡  Beloved Wonderland Pier in Ocean City to Close Permanently on October 13

 📻 ‍️Cape May’s WCFA 101.5 FM: Local Radio with Global Reach

 ⚾ Phillies Ready for NLDS with Wheeler, Sanchez, and Nola Lined Up

👇 Here’s What’s Goin On In The Cape May Local Area 👇 

 October 5th

• Colleen's Birthday - 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

• Rutgers Southern Regional Child Care Resource and Referral Agency - 9:00 am - 10:30 am

• Scarecrow Alley at the Physick Estate - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

• The Race of Gentlemen - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

• Morey’s Piers Oktoberfest - 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm

• A Case for the Existence of God at East Lynne Theater - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

• Cape May Stage presents: Stones In His Pockets - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

  October 6th

• Scarecrow Alley at the Physick Estate - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

• Emlen Physick Estate Tour - 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm

• Mansions By The Sea Trolley Tour - 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm

• Gordon Vincent at Hawk Haven Vineyard - 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

• Cape May Stage presents: Stones In His Pockets - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

  October 7th

• Cape May Lighthouse - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

• Dolphin Watch Around Cape May - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

• Welcome to Cape May Trolley Tour - 1:40 pm - 2:15 pm

• Jim Ross at The Mad Batter - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

• Cape May Stage Reading Series Presents "Native Gardens" - 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

  October 8th

• Cape May Lighthouse - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

• Spirits & Oddities Trolley Tour - 2:15 pm - 2:45 pm

• Phillies Baseball on the Beach - 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

• Graveyard, Ghosts & Mansion Combo Tour - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

• Barry Tischler at The Mad Batter - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

  October 9th

• Cape May Lighthouse - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

• Flu Vaccine Clinic - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

• Spirits & Oddities Trolley Tour - 2:15 pm - 2:45 pm

• Historic Haunts Combo Tour - 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm

• A Case for the Existence of God at East Lynne Theater - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

• Cape May Stage presents: Stones In His Pockets - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

  OUR NEW EVENT SUBMISSION FORM

Have an Upcoming Event?

Cape May's SS Atlantus: From Wartime Experiment to Local Curiosity

 The SS Atlantus, a concrete ship built during World War I, rests off Cape May’s coast after running aground in 1920. Originally part of a steel-saving experiment, the Atlantus never saw service and became a tourist attraction before deteriorating from storm damage. Only small remnants remain visible today, marking a unique piece of New Jersey’s history.

After the war, the ship was sold to the Eastern Steamship Company, which intended to use her as a ferry terminal in Cape May. But in 1920, severe weather caused the Atlantus to run aground, and despite several attempts to refloat her, she was eventually abandoned. Over the years, the ship became a tourist attraction, drawing visitors intrigued by her unusual concrete construction. Storms in 1926 and 2008 caused significant damage, breaking the ship in half and leaving only small remnants visible today.

Though the SS Atlantus never fulfilled its intended purpose, it remains a symbol of wartime ingenuity and Cape May's maritime history. Visitors can still glimpse the decaying hull during low tides, but it’s likely that in the near future, the last pieces of the ship will disappear into the sea.

Beloved Wonderland Pier in Ocean City to Close Permanently on October 13

 Wonderland Pier in Ocean City, a 94-year-old amusement park, will close permanently on October 13 due to financial difficulties. Owned by Mayor Jay Gillian, the park was saved from auction in 2021 by Eustace Mita of ICONA Resorts, but efforts to keep the park open have been unsuccessful. Many residents fear that Wonderland Pier may be demolished and replaced with a hotel under the ICONA brand. Mita has informed city officials that he will need six months to decide the future of the property. 

Cape May’s WCFA 101.5 FM: Local Radio with Global Reach

 WCFA 101.5 FM, Cape May’s community radio station, has been serving the area since 2006 with an eclectic mix of music, talk shows, and cultural content. Run by the Community Center for the Arts, the station is now located in the Franklin Street School and continues to expand its programming and reach. With a sister station in Newfoundland, WCFA remains committed to free-form radio, allowing its DJs creative freedom to deliver engaging and diverse programming

Phillies Ready for NLDS with Wheeler, Sanchez, and Nola Lined Up

 For the first time, the Phillies and Mets will meet in the postseason as they face off in the NLDS. The Mets secured their spot after a 4-2 win over the Brewers, setting up a best-of-5 series starting in Philadelphia. The teams split their regular-season series, but the Mets have been on a hot streak, with standout performances from Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. The series promises to be a fierce showdown between two longtime rivals.

Answer to the October 4th Trivia Question

Question: Cape May is located at the meeting point of which two bodies of water?

A) Delaware River and Atlantic Ocean
B) Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean
C) Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean
D) Hudson River and Atlantic Ocean

Answer: C) Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean​

Cape May sits at the southern tip of New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, making it a strategic and scenic coastal location.