Playlands Castaway Cove

In January 2021, a four-alarm fire ripped through Castaway Cove in Ocean City, New Jersey. The billowing flames destroyed the arcade building, front entrance, offices, the iconic pirate ship and some adjacent businesses. Many of the rides were spared, but the backbone and foundation of the park infrastructure required full reconstruction.

Timing was a key factor of the project, bringing its own set of difficulties to the fabricator, DDM Steel Services, Inc., as well as the galvanizer. With supply chain disruptions, there were costly delays in waiting for steel and key materials. With the project hanging in the balance post COVID-19, there were labor shortages that also played a part in the strategic timing of the project. Knowing that the rebuilding of the cove would take place in a landlocked location, this meant there would be limited access for cranes and equipment, further challenging the reconstruction process.

Amidst the list of obstacles that stood in the way of the project members, there was a coating protection system that would offer exactly what the team needed to be able to keep the project moving efficiently and provide long-lasting protection. The answer was hot-dip galvanizing.

The renown Castaway Cove sits on the boardwalk steps, meaning the steel members would be constantly in contact with the salty ocean water. For many alternative options, such as weathered steel, this would wreak havoc on the project and lead to long-term consequences with corrosion. Again, this is where hot-dip galvanizing would shine and prove to be a better solution due to its long-term corrosion protection, life-cycle cost, and sustainability. While paint systems would scrape and corrode within a matter of years, galvanizing would stand strong long into the future with virtually zero maintenance.

Sitting in the center of the park is the long-standing symbol, the pirate ship. To keep its legacy standing strong into the future, galvanizing the steel members would ensure it could withstand the corrosive sea salty air for decades down the road. Galvanizing would be able to provide full protection of every surface, including every joint and connection. This quality finish would not only showcase the strength of galvanizing but also the beauty of bringing a symbol of the area back to life.

The galvanizer offered a list of value-added services to assist further through the project. This included vent and drain hole education to ensure the product would have proper ventilation along with order tracking technology to allow the customer to track their material through galvanizing to stay on schedule. Proximity to the project location was also extremely helpful with transportation. What could have been a very complex project for another galvanizer, this project was handled seamlessly, meeting all project deadlines with ease.

A new story is now written for Castaway Cove in Ocean City, New Jersey due to the premium coating protection system that was chosen. With a reopening in April 2025, the new arcade features 75 games, upgraded safety features and the pirate ship standing proudly at the entrance for all locals and tourists to enjoy.