Posted on: May 11, 2026, 09:14h.
Last updated on: May 11, 2026, 09:14h.
- The Garden Pier in Atlantic City is being redeveloped into a family-focused destination
- The project comes from Showboat owner Bart Blatstein
Atlantic City is poised for its best summer in years, with casinos renovated and the beach restored. There’s also more for families to do than ever before.
Additional family fun is in the works. The to-be-announced project comes from Bart Blatstein, the man who is leading the charge to make Atlantic City more desirable for families and non-gamblers.
The owner of the Showboat, a non-gaming hotel, Blatstein invested over $100 million to construct the Island Waterpark at the North Boardwalk property. He spent another $7 million on transforming the former Caesars casino floor into the Lucky Snake Arcade, billed as the largest arcade in the world.
Now, Blatstein is reportedly fixated on opening a new entertainment attraction along the beach.
Beachside Family Amenity
The Press of Atlantic City was the first to report that Blatstein is redeveloping the Garden Pier. The one-acre pier is located across the Boardwalk from the Showboat and Ocean Casino Resort.
When Blatstein acquired the Showboat in early 2016 for $23 million, he spent another $1.5 million to purchase the Garden Pier from the City of Atlantic City. The Showboat has used the space for special events and live outdoor music on the weekends in the summertime.
Blatstein isn’t disclosing the full scope of the Garden Pier reimagination, saying only that it is an “entertainment project” tailored to families. In comments to the Press of Atlantic City, Blatstein cited the 2024 closure of Gillian’s Wonderland, an amusement pier in nearby Ocean City.
While Ocean City is mourning the loss of Wonderland, we at Showboat are expanding the family-friendly market. This is Atlantic City starting to pivot back to families,” Blatstein said.
The Philadelphia-based real estate developer said the pier project will cost several million dollars.
Growing the Market
2025 was a year of ups and downs for the nine casinos in Atlantic City.
While statewide gaming revenue set another annual record at $6.9 billion, the industry’s growth remained online. In-person casino revenue was up less than 3%, and only four of the nine casinos won more money from retail players than they did in the prior year. Meanwhile, gross gaming revenue from iGaming soared 22%.
Atlantic City welcomed 17.6 million visitors, a 2.6% year-over-year decrease. Profits for the nine resorts shrank, too. While net revenue was up 0.6%, gross profits tightened 1.4% to $665.4 million. Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s, and Tropicana all reported year-over-year profit declines.
Blatstein has long argued that Atlantic City needs more draws to bring new visitors to town. It hasn’t been easy.
As Casino.org reported in July 2025, a warrant for Blatstein’s arrest was issued after a contractor claimed he was not paid $532,933.35 for electrical work performed at the Showboat’s parking garage and resort. Blatstein made the contractor full soon after the court order.
There were also reports that the Showboat’s Island Waterpark has underperformed. Limited hours and reduced entry fees were cited for the rumors, which Blatstein denied.
