Not many people get to take a childhood pastime and turn it into a career. But Baja Amusements General Manager Patti Moore has done just that.
It’s been decades since Moore rode go-karts with the neighbor kids in Prince Georges County, MD. These days, she oversees 10 acres in West Ocean City, packed with 8 go-kart tracks, an 18-hole miniature golf course, kiddy rides, climbing walls, bumper boats, an arcade, and a snack bar.
Three of the tracks are “family tracks” – meaning that small children are allowed to ride with an adult driver. Moore sees that as a major plus – it prevents major disappointment when big brothers and sisters get behind the wheel, but the little guys don’t make the height requirement for drivers.
Baja also offers a kiddy track where little ones can drive their own cars. Other kiddy rides include a small roller coaster, a carousel and a Frog Hopper.
Other tracks offer a variety of challenges for more advanced racers -- from the “slick track,” a small track which Moore says gives drivers a chance to practice driving into the curves without spinning out, to the “road racer” track – a half-mile, windy track with 3 banked turns. On that one, drivers have their choice of single-engine or twin-engine karts. On the twin-engine karts, each wheel has its own motor. Another popular track is the “Bullit” track, on which Moore says “people like the challenge of trying to make it all the way around full throttle.”
All the tracks were designed by Baja owner Steve Hoffman. Moore and Hoffman grew up riding go-karts in their neighborhood and still base much of the Baja experience on those early adventures. They still test-drive everything themselves, fine-tuning each ride to get the most out of every attraction. It’s very much a family affair, since Hoffman’s brothers, Brian and Jimmy, as well as his mother, Lois Hoffman, are a big part of the day-to-day operations at Baja.
Moore finds it hard to believe it’s been three decades since she and Hoffman came to Ocean City to start their business. “It’s been a quick 30 years,” she says. She attributes Baja’s success to the fact that “we just try to pass on what we enjoyed as kids.”
Moore says the absolute “best deal” at Baja is the wristband which gives customers two hours to ride whatever they want. Group rates and birthday party packages are also available.
Baja Amusements is located on Route 50 (Ocean Gateway), just west of the White Marlin Mall. Summer hours are 9am to midnight; many of the rides are open through November and reopen in February. For more information, call 410-213-2252. |
