Locked up In Ocean City Maryland

Photo by @odysseawatersports showing many different “Love Locks”

Have you been locked up in Ocean City, MD yet? Many already have and many more will be especially as more visitors come to Ocean City, Md with the summer approaching. Now you may be thinking “locked up” means being arrested by police or maybe even the popular show “Locked up Abroad” but not to worry, our meaning of “locked up” means, a symbol of unbreakable love between two people.

Love Padlocks are shown going to the end of the Fishing Pier in Ocean City, Md. Photo by @odysseawatersports

According to Wikipedia, “A love lock or love padlock is a padlock that sweethearts lock to a bridge, fence, gate, monument, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love. Typically the sweethearts’ names or initials, and perhaps the date, are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away (often into a nearby river) to symbolize unbreakable love.”

Love Padlocks have been around for 100’s of yrs dating back to World War 1 and began in Europe. Now there are locations around the World, including Ocean City, MD, that has Love Padlocks affixed the fences along bridges and or piers. The Pont des Arts is most famous for being the Lock Bridge which is located in Paris, France.

A very rusty and deteriorated lock is barely holding on. Photo by @odysseawatersports

Love in Ocean City, MD
If you have visited Ocean City Maryland you may know about the historic fishing pier located at the inlet. What you may not have noticed is all the “Love Locks” lined up along the fence as you walk up and down the pier. On the Fishing Pier in Ocean City, MD, 100’s of locks are along the fence along the pier.

The locks come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. New locks, older locks, and even locks that have almost rusted away from years of salty air eating away at it. Many of the locks no longer have the initials on them due to the sun fading them and the locks deteriorating over time.

After a quick Google search, there turned out to be very little information on the Love Locks in Ocean City, MD. From what can be told, the locks date back to at least 2010, and the ones that have rusted away most likely date back to the early 2000s. If you are looking for a fun and interesting activity to do in Ocean City, Md, reading a handful of these locks was actually entertaining. They have different messages, initials, symbols but all mean one thing, forever love.

At the time of this blog and the photos were taken, only half of the pier was open. Once the pier is fully open you will be able to see even more locks as they line up all the way to the end of the pier. Adding a lock to the very end of the pier where it overhangs the ocean seems like the ideal location. Place the padlock on the chainlink fence and throw the key into the depths of the ocean.

So the next time you vacation in Ocean City, Maryland remember to grab your significant other, purchase a padlock of your choice, scribe or write both names or initials and the date. Then head to the closest bridge or pier to “Lockup” your forever love for one another! Don’t forget to throw the key so your love can never be unlocked! You are now officially locked up in Ocean City, Md

Forever love! Photo credit: @odysseawatersports