Roy Gillian, Founder of O.C’s Wonderland Pier, Dies at 94

Roy Gillian, the founder of Ocean City's Wonderland Pier, died on Saturday, Aug 17 at age 94.

According to his obituary, Mr Gillian died at his home in Ocean City.

His son, Jay Gillian, the business owner and Ocean City Mayor announced earlier this month that Wonderland Pier will close in October, saying it was no longer a viable business.

The Gillian Family Owned Fun Deck Amusement Park

Roy Gillian was born in Havertown, PA.  After serving in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s, Roy and his brother Bob Gillian took over the Fun Deck amusement park in 1957.

The Fun Deck, founded by his father David Gillian in 1930, was at Plymouth Place and the Boardwalk, where the OC Waterpark is today.

Roy left the family business to found Wonderland Pier in 1965 at Sixth Street in a spot on the Boardwalk that had sat empty for ten years after a fire destroyed Stainton's Playground. He also founded Gillian’s Island and Adventure Golf.

Roy Gillian's Ocean City Legacy

Roy Gillian was a prominent businessman and politician in Ocean City.

He was an Ocean City commissioner from 1963-67, Cape May County Freeholder from 1971-76, Commissioner of Cape May County Municipal Utilities from 1982-86, and Mayor of Ocean City from 1986-90.

Roy Gillian was a member of the New Jersey Amusement Ride Safety Board, past president and board member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, and past president and director of the New Jersey Amusement Association.

He was the past president of Shore Medical Center, past president of the Jersey Cape Diagnostic & Training Center, and past chairman of the board and director of Ocean City Home Bank for 34 years.

He was also a talented musician who loved to entertain with his piano playing through his adult life and was the orchestra leader of Roy Gillian & His Orchestra from 1947-51.

Surviving Family of Roy Gillian

In addition to his wife Patricia of 39 years, he was the father of Steven Gillian and Jay Gillian, father-in-law of Betsy Belleville Gillian; stepfather of Tammy Essington Defelice, and Michael Essington

Gillian was the grandfather of 12 and great-grandfather of 9. He was predeceased by his sons John Gillian and James Gillian.

See Mr. Gillian's obituary and funeral information.