Jersey Shore Amusement Park Ride 'Super Storm' A Nod To Hurricane Sandy?

Some might call it defying nature. Others might call it offensive.

A new ride on the Jersey Shore is set to take the place of the JetStar roller coaster, which was sunk by Hurricane Sandy -- also known as Superstorm Sandy. It's called "Super Storm."

The Oct. 29 storm demolished the East Coast, with five rides at the pier being permanently lost to the ravages of the storm. Hurricane Sandy also resulted in 135 total deaths in the East and countless damaged and lost homes.

A spokesperson for the Casino Pier told the New York Observer that she understands the concerns pier-goers may have about the controversial name of the new ride, which is set to open around the Fourth of July.

"I can understand people having mixed feelings about having a name like that," said the spokesperson.

Officials at Seaside Heights, NJ said that the ride name is intended to illustrate the perseverance of the Jersey Shore.

"We hope that it's perceived in a positive way, that we're back, we know the force of Mother Nature, and that we respect that, and this is our way of celebrating," said Seaside Heights Mayor Bill Akers to the Wall Street Journal.

The ride has already been built and delivered, according to Josh Karu, a Casino Pier manager. The ride will be a swinging pendulum where riders face inward while sitting in a circle. It swings back and forth, turning upside down and rotating a full 360 degrees.

Some residents, however, believe that such a ride is capitalizing on a tragedy that left many dead, homeless and devastated.

Marie King, 67, of Toms River said the storm brought "nothing but heartache" to her family.

"They're trying to get ride of the memory of what happened, and they're trying to put something up there to perpetuate it?" her husband, Bill King, said.

Mayor Akers said that he hopes the name will not dissuade people from going to the pier and thinks the new attraction may help bring in more tourists.

"I'd rather have a strong opinion than no opinion at all, that means there's a lot of interest. ... I'm hoping that people, instead of just judging by what they're hearing, they come down and see it and then form their own opinions," he said.