An Ocean City Icon Faces Turn in Economic Tide

She doesn't want to see the park close. "It's really sad. It's a landmark. How do you tell a 6-year-old, 'Oh, well, there's no more merry-go-round?'"

But her husband, Henry, 62, also a native Washingtonian, sees things differently.

"This is a disaster," the retired engineer said, pointing to the aging carousel. "It's a whole chunk of junk. They should tear this down and build something modern here."

"This was hot stuff like in the '50s," he added. "It's just over. We don't have buggy whips anymore. Things end. It's time to move on."

Operating the amusement park has become more expensive with rising insurance bills and energy costs, Doug Trimper said. The Trimpers wouldn't say whether revenue and attendance at the park is up or down.

To keep pace over the years, the Trimpers have raised ticket prices, but they say they will go only so high. "I'm ashamed with the prices right now, $3 to ride around for two minutes," Granville Trimper said. "There's a point where people are just not going to ride."

Granville and Doug Trimper have appealed the taxes with the state. They also have reached out to Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and lawmakers for help. Options under consideration include a historic designation or legislation to change the way the park is assessed, Doug said.

Hannah Byron, O'Malley's assistant secretary of tourism, said her office is considering drafting legislation to help Trimper's.

"The governor has directed my office to work on solutions to save this state treasure and keep Trimper's in operation," Byron said.

Losing Trimper's could harm Ocean City's economy, which is driven by 8 million tourists each year. With a payroll of about $2.5 million, the park employs about 300 people, about 40 of them year-round, Granville Trimper said.

"It's the heartbeat" of the boardwalk, said Del. James N. Mathias Jr. (D-Worcester), a former Ocean City mayor. "From the pipe organ of the carousel to the game where you pick the duck out of the pond . . . it's what people dream about when they dream about their summer vacation."

Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.