Mighty Joe
Overlooking Route 206 in Shamong from his mighty cage at a gas grill & deli bearing his namesake is a classic South Jersey Icon who's greeted drivers for years: Mighty Joe! While he may seem like a menacing King Kong, Mighty Joe is of a much more benevolent if not somewhat sad nature.
Having gone by several monikers in the past, including Kongo-Pongo, Magilla, and George, this twenty-five-foot-tall gorilla originated as an amusement park attraction featuring a slide coming out of the beast's chest along Wildwood's boardwalk before becoming the mascot of the now-defunct Island Family Fun Park formerly located before the George Redding Bridge in Wildwood. There the gorilla fell into disrepair; the ankles and feet broke, and the only thing preventing the beast from faceplanting into the ground was its massive arms. Battered by the elements, it seemed that the gorilla would become another forgotten relic rotting away in the marsh. But fate had something else in store for the mighty gorilla.
Mighty Joe before relocating to Shamong
In the early 2000s, the gorilla caught the attention of one John Valenzano. Locals may be familiar with that name since the Valenzano family owns several establishments in the area, including the gas & grill that Mighty Joe calls home. The gorilla reminded Mr. Valenzano of his son, Joseph. Joseph, who was a bodybuilder that often went by the name Mighty Joe, tragically died of a brain tumor in 1999 at the age of 27. To honor his son, Mr. Valenzano purchased the gorilla, repaired it, and turned it into a memorial for his son.
Since arriving in Shamong, Mighty Joe has been a roadside icon, catching the attention of passing motorists. He's been featured on the cover of Weird NJ issue #48 and a few articles on the gorilla pop-up from time to time. There was even a traditional geocache here a few years ago.
Logging Requirements:
1.) Post a photo of yourself, your GPS, or another personal item with Mighty Joe.
2.) Send me the missing words from the phrase on a nearby sign "Buy ___ The ___ You ___ Could Be Your ____!"
3.) There is a telephone poll with a yellow bottom near the fence. Send me the string of six letters/numbers with the yellow background.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.