Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District

The Caribbean Motel

The Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District, or Doo Wop Motel District, is an area in The Wildwoods, New Jersey, that was home to over 300 motels built during the Doo-Wop era of the 1950s and 1960s. Officially recognized as a historic district by the State of New Jersey, it lies primarily in the municipality of Wildwood Crest, along a two-mile stretch between Atlantic and Ocean avenues, and includes areas in Wildwood and North Wildwood.^[1][2] The term doo-wop was coined by Cape May's Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts in the early 1990s to describe the unique, space-age architectural style, which is also referred to as the Googie or populuxe style.^[3]

The motels are very stylized, with Vegas-like neon signs, plastic palm trees, and fantastic architecture.^[4] Construction of condominia in the area has resulted in the demolition of many motels, but the Wildwood Doo Wop Preservation League has taken action to help save and restore the remaining historic buildings.^[5] The Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest, and the Chateau Bleu Motel in North Wildwood are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Plastic palm trees at the Caprice in Wildwood.

Doo-wop styled Wawa Food Market.

A 1950s Doo Wop museum has recently been built which contains property from demolished motels such as neon signs and furniture. Neo-Doo Wop buildings in the area feature a neon-lit Wawa and a 1950s-style Acme Supermarket.

History

Motel construction in the Wildwoods began in the early 1950s. 1958 was a banner year for construction in Wildwood Crest, with the opening of the Satellite, Caribbean, El Reno (later the South Beach Motel), Sand Castle, Swan Motel and Tangiers motels. The Rio Motel, in Wildwood proper, also made its debut that spring.^[6] New motels were built into the 1970s.

Morey Brothers

The sign of the Lollipop Motel in North Wildwood.

Many of these Doo-Wop motels were designed by the brothers Lewis J. (Lou) and Wilburt C. (Will) Morey, born in West Wildwood in 1925 and 1927, respectively. In 1952, their company Morey Brothers Builders built Wildwood's first motel, the single-story Jay's Motel, at the corner of Hildreth and Atlantic Avenues. In 1955 they dissolved their formal business partnership and began to work more independently on motel designs.^[7]

Styles

Doo Wop motels generally include U-shaped or L-shaped designs of two or three stories, asymmetric elements, swimming pools, adjacent parking or second story sun decks over parking spaces, plastic palm trees, angular walls or windows, flat overhanging roofs, prominent neon signs and railing, bright colors, and a contemporary or fantasy theme. References to popular culture or history were also common. The themes or sub-styles have been classified as: Modern/Blastoff, Vroom, Chinatown Revival, Tiki (Polynesian Pop), and Phony Colonee. The Blastoff style is reminiscent of the jet-age airports of the 1950s and 1960s. The Vroom style includes forward-thrusting building elements. Phony Colonee imitates the mass market Colonial Revival architecture of the 1950s and 1960s with Colonial American brick and lamppost elements^[8][9]

• 
  The Pan American in the Vroom style
• 
  The Singapore in the Chinatown Revival style
• 
  The Royal Hawaiian in the Tiki style
• 
  The Saratoga in the Phony Colonee style
• 
  The Crusader has a historical theme
• 
  The Gondolier

The rotating Pan American Motel sign, one of only two rotating signs in the Wildwoods

Neon signs

Each motel typically had one or more large, garish neon signs used to draw in passing motorists to their establishment. These signs became part of the architectural style and motels competed to have the most distinctive sign. Two firms supplied most of the signs, Ace Sign Company and Allied Sign Company, with W. Robert Hentges becoming the best known local sign designer. Hentges originally worked for Ace, then moved to Allied, and later founded his own company. Local laws banned flashing signs and limited revolving signs.^[10]

Existing motels

Caribbean Motel

The Caribbean Motel's C-shaped swimming pool and plastic palm trees

The Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest, built in 1958 and now restored, was the first motel to use the full-size plastic palm trees that now adorn most of the Doo Wop motels in the area.^[11] The motel was saved from demolition in 2004, when it was purchased by George Miller and Caroline Emigh, who succeeded in getting the property placed on the national historic registry. After reading the book, How to Doo Wop: the Wildwoods-by-the-Sea Handbook of Design Guidelines published by the Doo Wop Preservation League, they were so impressed by the suggested designs of Philadelphia architect Anthony Bracali that they hired him to oversee restoration of the motel. The interior design was done by Darleen Lev, a designer from New York City who was staying at the motel around the time that Miller and Emigh bought the property. An admirer of the Technicolor film process, Lev's designs are modeled on movie sets of the 1950s, as well as reflecting the motel's Caribbean motif. The Caribbean Motel was owned by the Rossi family for more than 30 years, until the early 1990s.^[12]

Chateau Bleu Motel

Chateau Bleu Motel

Located in North Wildwood, Chateau Bleu Motel was built in 1962 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 2004.^[13][14] It features a heart shaped swimming pool.

Neon Garden at the Doo Wop Experience

Oceanview Motel

The Oceanview Motel in Wildwood Crest, which was built in 1964, is the largest motel ever built in The Wildwoods. In 2009, the owners had plans to demolish the motel to make way for condominia, but it was rejected by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The Oceanview was originally named the Admiral East Motel, when the Admiral West Motel (now the Admiral Resort Motel), shared the same owner.

Other motels

Notable existing motels also include: The Jolly Roger, The Pan American, The Crusader, The Waikiki, The Newport, The Sea Shell, The Admiral, The Adventurer, The Carriage Stop, The Granada, The Tangiers and the Yankee Clipper.

Extant historic motels

Name	Image	Built	Location	Coordinates	Description
Admiral Motel		1971	Rambler Rd & Atlantic Ave.	38°58′31″N 74°49′45″W / 38.9752°N 74.8293°W	Once the Admiral West, when its neighbor across the street was also called Admiral (East). Date is circa - does not appear on a 1970 overhead of property (see historicaerials.com) - is listed in 1973 G.W.H.M. Accommodations Directory
Aqua Beach			Buttercup & Ocean Ave.	38°58′38″N 74°49′29″W / 38.9771°N 74.8246°W
Armada By The Sea		1973	Forget-me-not & Beach Ave.	38°58′20″N 74°49′52″W / 38.9723°N 74.8311°W
American Safari		1969	Lavender & Ocean Ave.	38°58′37″N 74°49′33″W / 38.9769°N 74.8257°W	Zoo theme
Astronaut Motel		1963	Stockton & beach	38°58′05″N 74°50′09″W / 38.9680°N 74.8359°W	Date is circa - the Astronaut is visible on a 1963 overhead of the property (see historicaerials.com). Does not appear in 1961 G.W.H.M Accommodations Directory (though hotels/motels did not necessarily participate).
Attache Resort		1966	Heather & Ocean Ave.	38°58′34″N 74°49′34″W / 38.9762°N 74.8261°W
Aztec Resort		1960	Lavender & Atlantic Ave.	38°58′39″N 74°49′35″W / 38.9774°N 74.8263°W	Its western annex building is older and was originally the Coral Sands Motel
Beach Colony Motel		1963	Stockton & Ocean Ave.	38°58′06″N 74°50′12″W / 38.9682°N 74.8367°W	Originally the Golden Nugget. Date is circa - the Golden Nugget is visible on a 1963 overhead of the property (see historicaerials.com). Does not appear in 1961 G.W.H.M Accommodations Directory.
Bel Air		1956	Morning Glory & Ocean Ave.	38°58′39″N 74°49′30″W / 38.9775°N 74.8250°W	Just north of the Caribbean. "7-shaped" Date is circa - the Bel Air appears on a 1956 overhead of the property (see historicaerials.com). Originally one floor.
Bristol Plaza		1970	Rosemary & Beach Ave. Wildwood Crest	38°58′22″N 74°49′50″W / 38.9727°N 74.8305°W
Cape Cod Inn		1966	Sweetbriar & Atlantic Ave. Wildwood Crest	38°58′29″N 74°49′45″W / 38.9747°N 74.8293°W	Originally three floors, and expanded to four in the 2000s.
Cara Mara		1963	Fern & Ocean Ave.	38°58′20″N 74°49′58″W / 38.9721°N 74.8329°W	Date is circa - the Cara Mara is visible on a 1963 overhead of the property (see historicaerials.com). Does not appear in 1961 G.W.H.M Accommodations Directory. Originally two floors, without oceanfront rooms.
Caribbean Motel		1958	Buttercup & Ocean Ave. Wildwood Crest	38°58′45″N 74°49′32″W / 38.97917°N 74.82556°W	Listed on the NRHP Owners claim it opened in 1957.
Conca d’or Motel			East Stanton Road at the beach	38°58′02″N 74°50′12″W / 38.9673°N 74.8366°W
Compass Motel			Atlantic and Rosemary	38°58′24″N 74°49′55″W / 38.9732°N 74.8319°W
Crusader
Crystal Beach Motor Inn			Atlantic and Aster	38°58′34″N 74°49′41″W / 38.9760°N 74.8281°W
Diamond Crest
Fleur de Lis Resort		1966	Ocean and Sweetbriar	38°58′27″N 74°49′43″W / 38.9742°N 74.8285°W
Gold Crest		1967
Gondolier		1965	Lavender & Beach Ave. Wildwood Crest	38°58′34″N 74°49′32″W / 38.9762°N 74.8255°W	Italian themed, "F shaped"
Imperial 500		1964	Forget-Me-Not Road & Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood Crest		East end expanded to four floors (from the original three) in the first half of the 2000s.
Jolly Roger		1959			Originally on the beach, before Ocean Avenue expanded south.
Nassau Inn		1969	Ocean and Wisteria	38°58′26″N 74°49′45″W / 38.9739°N 74.82925°W	Date is circa - appears in 1970 overhead of property (see historicaerials.com).
Ocean Holiday		1973	Beach Ave. & Rosemary	38°58′21″N 74°49′51″W / 38.9725°N 74.8309°W
Oceanview		1963	Rambler Rd and Ocean Ave.	38°58′09″N 74°50′08″W / 38.9692°N 74.8356°W	Date is circa - appears in 1963 overhead of property (see historicaerials.com) Does not appear in 1961 G.W.H.M Accommodations Directory. Originally called Admiral, and later Admiral East (once the West motel was built across the street), then by 1992 it became the Ocean View. Initially two floors.
Olympic Island
Pan American		1964
Park Lane		1963			Date is circa - appears in 1963 overhead of property (see historicaerials.com) Does not appear in 1961 G.W.H.M Accommodations Directory.
Pink Orchid			Atlantic& Orchid	38°58′10″N 74°50′11″W / 38.9695°N 74.8364°W
Royal Hawaiian		1969	Orchid & Ocean Ave. Wildwood Crest	38°58′06″N 74°50′09″W / 38.9684°N 74.8359°W	Polynesian Pop East wing is from 1969, West wing from 1978
Sand Castle Motel			Ocean & Stockton	38°58′06″N 74°50′15″W / 38.9684°N 74.8374°W
Sand Dune
Saratoga Inn		1960	Stanton & Ocean	38°58′03″N 74°50′15″W / 38.9675°N 74.8375°W	Phoney Colonee
Sea Chest Motel			Atlantic & Stockton	38°58′08″N 74°50′15″W / 38.9688°N 74.8375°W
Sea Drift			Atlantic & Buttercup	38°58′42″N 74°49′36″W / 38.9782°N 74.8267°W
Sea Scape Inn
Shalimar		1964	Rosemary & Atlantic Ave. Wildwood Crest	38°58′24″N 74°49′52″W / 38.9734°N 74.8312°W	Restored in 2005 & expanded to allow for two-floor units + single level motel rooms, raising the height to five stories (originally three).
Singapore		1964
Tangiers		1958
Viking		1960	Columbine & Ocean Ave. Wildwood Crest	38°58′24″N 74°49′51″W / 38.9734°N 74.8308°W	Date is circa - the Viking is listed in a 1961 G.W.H.M. Accommodations Directory.
V.I.P.		1965	Forget-me-not & Atlantic Ave. Wildwood Crest
Waikiki		1969	Wisteria & Beach Ave.	38°58′25″N 74°49′45″W / 38.9736°N 74.8292°W	By the beach & library, Polynesian Pop Date is circa - appears in 1970 overhead of property (see historicaerials.com).
Waters Edge Ocean Resort			Beach & Buttercup	38°58′35″N 74°49′30″W / 38.9765°N 74.8251°W
Yankee Clipper		1966	Cardinal & Ocean Ave. Wildwood Crest	38°58′29″N 74°49′44″W / 38.9748°N 74.8288°W

Demolished motels

From 2003 to 2006, over 50 motels had been demolished to make way for condominium development. In addition to the Ebb Tide, notable demolished motels in the area included the Satellite, Kona Kai, Waterways, Christine Motor Inn, Fantasy and Rio motels.^[12]

Ebb Tide Motel

The Ebb Tide Motel in 1992

The Ebb Tide Motel, built in 1957 and demolished in 2003, is credited as the first Doo-Wop motel in Wildwood Crest.^[3][15]

The Sea Rose Motel

The Sea Rose Motel, which was owned by Stanley and Catherine Stefankiewicz, was demolished in Fall 2004. The motel was owned for many years by the Stefankiewicz Family, who also owned the Poplar Cafe which is now known as "Goodnight Irenes".

Satellite Motel

Built in 1958, the Satellite Motel was one of the Wildwoods' signature "Doo Wop" landmarks until its demolition after the 2004 season, sparking a wave of redevelopment in the area that winter. It was located on the northeast corner of Atlantic & Aster in Wildwood Crest. The Satellite's rooftop neon sign was installed as part of the Neon Garden at the Doo Wop Experience museum in May 2008.^[6] The motel was featured prominently in Thomas Hine's 1986 book, Populuxe.^[16]

As the loss of the original Satellite was so great, plans are underway for a successor to it - the 21st Century Satellite Motel. The new project looks back to the original Satellite's first decade of life - when it was arguably at its best and purest form aesthetically, and truest to its initial vision as an overall experience for its guests - for its inspiration, moving it forward into the future for its new form.

https://21stcenturysatellite.com/

See also

The Oceanview Motel, located on Ocean Avenue and East Rambler Road in Wildwood Crest, is the largest motel in the Wildwoods.

The Mark 1 Motel

Sign of the Sea Shell Motel

• Cape May Historic District
• MiMo District

References

1. "The '50s and '60s Thrive In Retro Doo-Wop Motels". Washington Post. 24 June 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
2. Doo Wop Preservation League Web site
3. Wildwood Crest Historical Society Web site
4. Fancher, Emily. "Doo Wop" architecture lures tourists back to seaside town, Columbia News Service, June 10, 2002. Accessed June 17, 2007. "Just about everything in Wildwood, N.J. has been touched by 'Doo Wop'. The term describes the distinctively kitschy flair of the town's 200 motels, which were built in the 1950s and '60s. Reflecting the popular cultural themes of the era, the motels have Hawaiian and Polynesian designs, Space Age accents or rock 'n' roll details."
5. Neon and Angles: Motels of the Wildwoods, Historic Preservation Bulletin, Summer 2006, accessed May 17, 2011
6. "Satellite Motel". Wildwood Doo Wop.com. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
7. Hastings, Kirk. Doo Wop Motels: Architectural Treasures of The Wildwoods. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 11–12. ISBN 978-0-8117-3389-2.
8. History of Doo Wop Motels, accessed May 17, 2011,
9. Hastings, Kirk. Doo Wop Motels: Architectural Treasures of The Wildwoods. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-8117-3389-2.
10. Hastings, Kirk (2007). Doo Wop Motels: Architectural Treasures of the Wildwoods. Stackpole Books. pp. Chapter Two. ISBN 9780811733892.
11. Spain, John (August 16, 2008). "Doo Wop delights of the Jersey shore". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
12. Eisenthal, Bram (October 21, 2006). "Doo Wop sings the blues". Montreal Gazette. Canwest. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
13. National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
14. "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Cape May County" (PDF). NJ DEP - Historic Preservation Office. January 10, 2010. p. 12. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
15. "History of Wildwood Crest, New Jersey". Visit New Jersey Shore. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
16. Hine, Thomas (1986). Populuxe: the Look and Life of Midcentury America. Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press. ISBN 978-1-58567-910-2.