Trimper Rides

The Trimper family got its start in Ocean City in the 1890s, when Daniel Trimper began buying up boardwalk property and installing rides as the town was becoming a resort. The amusement park they built has stayed in the family through more than a century of storms, fires, and changing times, making it one of the oldest family-run amusement enterprises in the United States.

That continuity is the heart of the story. Where most amusement parks pass through corporate hands or vanish entirely, Trimper's has remained a family concern rooted in a single stretch of boardwalk, its history layered into the buildings and machines that generations of visitors have grown up with. Riding here is a link to the very origins of the American beach vacation.

The park's treasure is its carousel, a hand-carved wooden merry-go-round built by the Herschell-Spillman company in the early 1900s and installed at Trimper's around the time of the First World War. Its menagerie of horses, along with more whimsical carved animals, and its ornate ornamentation make it one of the finest and oldest operating carousels in the country.

More than a century of riders have circled on it, and the family has carefully maintained and restored the carousel to keep it running, treating it as the irreplaceable antique it is. To climb aboard is to touch the golden age of the American carousel, the same painted horses that carried children in an age of gaslight still turning today by the Atlantic.

Trimper's grew over the decades into a full amusement park spanning both sides of the boardwalk. A historic indoor pavilion houses a collection of vintage rides and attractions that keep running rain or shine, a rare survival of the old enclosed amusement halls, while an outdoor midway offers a modern mix of coasters, spinners, and family rides.

That blend of old and new is part of the park's charm. You can ride a hundred-year-old carousel and a contemporary thrill ride within a few steps of each other, the deep history and the summer fun side by side, all wrapped in the sights and sounds of the boardwalk just beyond the fence.

The park sits at the historic southern end of the Ocean City boardwalk near the inlet, the oldest and most storied stretch of the boards. Around it run the classic pleasures of a Maryland beach town, saltwater taffy, arcades, fries, and the wide Atlantic beach, all within a short stroll of Trimper's gates.

Beyond the town, the wild barrier island of Assateague and its famous free-roaming ponies lie just to the south, a natural counterpoint to the lights and music of the boardwalk. Trimper's ties it all together, a century-old heart at the historic core of one of the East Coast's great beach resorts.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Trimper Rides is a historic amusement park at the south end of the Ocean City boardwalk, one of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks in the country, dating to the late 1800s. A cherished piece of Ocean City tradition, it features a beloved antique carousel, classic rides both indoor and outdoor, and a nostalgic, family-friendly atmosphere. Generations of families have enjoyed its rides right on the boardwalk, making it an iconic part of the classic Maryland beach-vacation experience.

You can ride a wonderful mix of attractions, from a treasured antique carousel with hand-carved animals to modern thrill rides and gentle kiddie rides, many housed in an indoor pavilion that is perfect on a hot or rainy day. There are also games and boardwalk fun nearby. The blend of vintage charm and classic amusement-park rides makes it especially delightful for families with young children, though there is something for all ages.

Summer is the classic season, when Ocean City and its boardwalk are in full swing, though weekends and holidays get busy, so weekdays or earlier in the day tend to be calmer. The indoor rides make it a good option even in less-than-perfect weather. Because operating hours and seasons can vary, especially in spring and fall, checking the current schedule before you go helps you plan your boardwalk visit.

Very much so. With its gentle kiddie rides, the historic carousel, and the indoor ride pavilion, Trimper Rides is especially geared toward families with young children, offering a safe, nostalgic, and manageable amusement experience right on the boardwalk. Rather than big, intense thrills, it emphasizes classic, wholesome fun, making it a perfect stop for little ones during an Ocean City beach vacation, with easy access to the beach and boardwalk treats nearby.

Trimper Rides sits at the southern end of the famous Ocean City boardwalk, surrounded by its many attractions, from the beach and iconic boardwalk foods like Thrasher's French Fries and Fisher's popcorn to shops, arcades, and other amusements. The Atlantic beach is right there, and the whole boardwalk stretches out for strolling. That puts Trimper Rides at the heart of a classic Ocean City day of rides, beach, and boardwalk treats.