Doo Wop Preservation League Forum - Wildwood, NJ - Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel

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Doo Wop Preservation League Forum - Wildwood, NJ › Doo Wop Preservation - The Serious Stuff › Doo Wop Motels: Our Favorite Landmarks
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Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel (Read 3426 times)

WildMan

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Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel
Jul 27^th, 2007, 10:45am

Astronaut Motel

511 East Stockton Road
Wildwood Crest
(p): (609) 522-6981

Official Website
http://www.astronautmotel.biz

Wildwood Doo Wop Profile
http://www.wildwooddoowop.com/doowopspots/?ID=177#spot_history

As always, all previous Doo Wop Discussions are still open!

Doo Wop Discussion #7: Bonito Motel (Wildwood)
http://www.doowopusa.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1184945900

Doo Wop Discussion #6: Carideon Motel (North Wildwood)
http://www.doowopusa.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1184339880

Doo Wop Discussion #5: SurfSide West Diner (Wildwood)
http://www.doowopusa.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1183739599

Doo Wop Discussion #4: Jolly Roger Motel (Wildwood Crest)
http://www.doowopusa.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1183094699

Doo Wop Discussion #3: Pink Champagne Motel (Wildwood)
http://www.doowopusa.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1182520248

Doo Wop Discussion #2: New England Motel (North Wildwood)
http://www.doowopusa.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1181906799

Doo Wop Discussion #1: Isle of Capri Motel (North Wildwood)
http://www.doowopusa.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1181234853

Since Al is on the road today, he asked me to take care of this week's Doo Wop Discussion. A selection from Wildwood Crest was required and the Astronaut Motel was randomly picked for us Doo Wop lovers to talk about.

I don't have Al's vast knowledge of all things "Wildwood", so this intro will be brief. The Astronaut was constructed in the southern part of the Crest in 1962 and is an L-shaped motel very similar in basic design to other motels in the Doo Wop Historic District. While many motels have disappeared from this part of the Crest in recent years, the Astronaut remains 45 years later as it continues to symbolize optimism.

And with that, let the Discussion begin!

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Cindy

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Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel
Reply #1 - Jul 27^th, 2007, 2:57pm

Oh, this is a great little place.

I never really appreciated the on-the-beach motels until recent years (another example is the Lampliter). I attribute it to the fact that they are not “drive by” motels and the streets that they are on dead end into the beach. So, you need to U-turn which I hate. More recently, I have ventured to these places on foot, with camera in hand. I find the owners to be very friendly.

I made a stop at the Astronaut last year to take a few pictures. The owner was so proud that someone wanted to take pictures of the motel and thanked me for doing so. I took a great shot of the office sign which has (what else?) an astronaut on it. It is a really cute motel. (and fantabulously DooWop with its space age theme.)

This is another motel that I never stayed at, but it may be worth it to take an overnight trip. The Astronaut can be considered one of the “hidden gems” of the Crest.

"Bobby Bright of the Wildwood Historical Society often refers to us as a cult . . ." Ralph Grassi

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WildMan

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Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel
Reply #2 - Jul 27^th, 2007, 3:03pm

And hidden it is! Aside from the sign, I never bothered to venture down that little cul-de-sac until a few weeks ago. Was I ever glad that I did!

That's great that the owner was impressed by your desire to photograph his motel. I can't help but wonder if little stuff like that might make a difference is someone is torn between keeping their motel or selling to a developer. And it's too bad most of Wildwood's motel owners likely don't pay much attention to these forums because there are a lot of nice things said about little-known properties and I know that if I owned one of them, I'd be flattered by the kind words and be at least a little inspired by them.

The sign is particularly nice at night. It's very simple but effective. You'd almost expect something with planets or asteroids on it but instead it's just the name of the place in a very attractive font. So classy!

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MMM Forum Moderator I support Doo Wop preservation. Posts: 3981 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #3 - Jul 28^th, 2007, 3:22pm Wasn't the Astronaut converted?
Back to top	Martin Melucci ...no matter how much you like an old building, someone will eventually come along and knock it down to build a "better" one. But that rarely happens. - Tony Visconti IP Logged

WildMan Ultimate God Member Posts: 5700 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #4 - Jul 28^th, 2007, 5:06pm Converted into condotels or converted into something like what was once the Pink Orchid? The former might be true but not the latter.
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mike Senior Member Posts: 432 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #5 - Jul 28^th, 2007, 6:32pm Quote from MMM on Jul 28^th, 2007, 3:22pm: Wasn't the Astronaut converted? yes i saw a unit for sale last year
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WildMan Ultimate God Member Posts: 5700 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #6 - Jul 28^th, 2007, 7:32pm Cindy mentioned having spoken with the owner last year... maybe he still owns a few units, or has something to do with the day-to-day operation of the place?
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Cindy God Member proudly drinking the kool aid Posts: 619 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #7 - Jul 28^th, 2007, 8:30pm There was a man in the office. I assumed that he was the owner of the motel.
Back to top	"Bobby Bright of the Wildwood Historical Society often refers to us as a cult . . ." Ralph Grassi IP Logged

MMM Forum Moderator I support Doo Wop preservation. Posts: 3981 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #8 - Jul 28^th, 2007, 8:34pm Quote from Rob Ascough on Jul 28^th, 2007, 5:06pm: Converted into condotels or converted into something like what was once the Pink Orchid? The former might be true but not the latter. Just the type of ownership, while still looking and running like a Motel.
Back to top	Martin Melucci ...no matter how much you like an old building, someone will eventually come along and knock it down to build a "better" one. But that rarely happens. - Tony Visconti IP Logged

WildMan Ultimate God Member Posts: 5700 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #9 - Jul 28^th, 2007, 11:00pm Something I have no problem with, provided people want to buy units... unlike the Nassau Inn, which seems to have a hard time selling theirs.
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MMM Forum Moderator I support Doo Wop preservation. Posts: 3981 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #10 - Jul 29^th, 2007, 1:29am It looks like the interior remodel was recently done. From seeing into the rooms from outside not long ago (I think last year), I remember the interiors looking like they needed a freshening. Good to see it's being better looked after now...
Back to top	Martin Melucci ...no matter how much you like an old building, someone will eventually come along and knock it down to build a "better" one. But that rarely happens. - Tony Visconti IP Logged

FlyinGN Ultimate God Member Wildwood fan since '61 Posts: 5803 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #11 - Jul 29^th, 2007, 4:41pm no real comments from me either. Never stayed there.. But always admired the place..
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WildMan Ultimate God Member Posts: 5700 Gender:	Re: Doo Wop Discussion #8: Astronaut Motel Reply #12 - Jul 30^th, 2007, 9:05am You've got me beat. I never even admired the place until now!
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Doo Wop Preservation League Forum - Wildwood, NJ › Doo Wop Preservation - The Serious Stuff › Doo Wop Motels: Our Favorite Landmarks
(Moderators: Doo Wop Mike D, MMM, Al Alven)

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