Working at Fantasy Island, Long Beach Island’s only amusement park, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in business last summer, sometimes leads to more than just job experience. Just ask long-time Ride Department Manager Melanie Markoski, who has witnessed love and friendship blossom among employees over the summer seasons.
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| Photo by Jack Reynolds Visitors enjoy the amusement rides and games at the park. |
“So many friendships are born here as well as romances,” said Markoski, who began running the carousel at the park 24 years ago, when she was just 19 years old. “We have had many Fantasy Island marriages over the years, and now they bring their kids in to play or sometimes work.
“The ride, arcade and games departments all have managers that started as teenagers here at the park,” she added. “… It is our family. We all literally grew up here.”
Throughout her time working as a full-time summer employee, Markoski said, she was able to complete her undergraduate and master’s degrees.
For those interested in working at the park this coming season, Fantasy Island will be hosting a job fair on site, in Beach Haven, on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The park is currently looking for about 100 workers to fill various positions. Teens ages 14 and 15 may apply to work day shifts in the arcade. Anyone 16 years and older may apply to work in the arcade at night as well as in the rides, games, ice cream and food departments.
About 30 international students from Russia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria are also expected to work at the park this summer.
“These students help to bridge the gap when our American college students leave us in August and we are still really busy,” said Markoski, who also coordinates Fantasy Island’s International Student Program, which began with about five students in 1998. “This year Labor Day is the latest it can be, so we rely heavily on our students to keep us fully operational.
“I always say that Fantasy Island is a clique melting pot,” she added. “Those cliques from high school do not exist here. When we are busy and the sports kid and the science kid are running a ride and have a long line, it is all about team work. Now they have that one thing in common and have a basis to grow a relationship.”
Fantasy Island will also help honor Beach Haven’s 125th anniversary this year with special events and surprises.
For more information, or to fill out a job application, email mel@fantasyislandpark.com.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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