A disturbing clip of children steering small boats through cloudy brown water at a well-known amusement park has triggered fresh safety and cleanliness concerns.
The clip, which was posted by a TikTok user on Sunday, revealed the horrid conditions at the water boats attraction at Trimper Rides of Ocean City, Maryland.
The footage shows miniature ride boats drifting across the darkened water, with one child seated in a boat while several others sat unused nearby.
‘Water hasn’t been changed since I rode these boats in 1999,’ the user joked sarcastically in the post.
It remains unclear what caused the water to appear that shade or how regularly it is replaced. The Daily Mail has reached out to Trimper Rides for comment.
While the child appeared to be enjoying the attraction over the holiday weekend, commenters were quick to express disgust and alarm over the water’s appearance.
‘Prob radioactive now,’ one person wrote beneath the unsettling video.
‘I’d cry if a drop got on me,’ another commenter added.
The video showed the grim-looking water at the children’s boat attraction at Trimper Rides in Ocean City, Maryland
The video comes about six weeks after a little boy enjoyed crystal clear blue water on one of the boats, an image the theme park posted showed
A person suggested that the park needs to take better care of its attractions, stating: ‘That ride is overdue for maintenance.’
Another user said the dirty water looked like it came ‘straight outta the toilet’.
Meanwhile, many people reminisced on the days when the water was blue, and even shared pictures to prove it.
One wrote: ‘Yes the water was clear at one point.’
Others compared the scene to something out of the classic movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
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‘They should just say it’s Willy Wonka’s chocolate river,’ one chimed in.
Another wrote: ‘It’s the Willy Wonka boat ride. What’s the matter with you?’
‘I figured it was a Willy Wonka theme park,’ someone else added.
Other compared the scene to something out of the classic movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The video comes about six weeks after a little boy enjoyed crystal clear blue water on one of the boats, an image the theme park posted on social media showed.
The caption read: ‘We’re all dreaming of boat days. Sun, smiles, and a little ride that feels like summer!’
The business posted a similar picture in December 2025, but this time of two young boys enjoying the ride in blue water.
Trimper Rides was founded in 1893 by Daniel and Margaret Trimper, making it the second-oldest family-owned theme park in the US.
The Trimper’s, who were both German immigrants, decided to move to the beach town in 1890 after they became ‘captivated’ by it, according to the company’s website.
The business posted a similar picture in December 2025, but this time of two young boys enjoying the ride with blue water
The following year, they bought their first property in Ocean City, followed by two hotels the next year, the biography detailed.
In time, they turned their business into an amusement park and boardwalk for tourists and locals alike.
It is unclear how many park goers visit Trimper Rides every year, but it is located at the heart of Ocean City, which sees about 8 million visitors annually.
