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The pool area is located in between the southern end of the two wings and the 2nd floor deck. It’s mostly rectangular shaped, with rounded sections at the two “heads” – one looks like a kiddie pool, and the other is a raised hot tub with blue tile around its outer area. More of the blue tile decorates the inner edges of the pool and hot tub. An “M” Matador logo is in the pool’s bottom, in red. A mural depicting the beach/ocean and a rowboat is painted on the 1st floor wall of the east-west wing that faces the pool area. The boat is particularly appropriate with the North Wildwood Lifeguard building on the beach near the Matador, and their use of the Matador’s lot to store equipment in the off-season. Earthy/sandy colored tile surrounds the pool area, with real palms used, planted in pots. Red and white vinyl strap chairs (my favorite type) are used throughout the exterior – lounges by the pool, armchairs by the rooms, and both are used on the decks.
As part of this past off-season’s renovations, the 4th floor deck’s surface was repaired and resurfaced with a (to my eye) sandy, but floor like finish. Balcony surfaces got similar treatment, but with more of a stone like look. Existing exhaust stacks on the 4th floor deck got coated/finished/built up and now serve as tables with granite tops and red pyramid shaped umbrellas. A driveway travels between the pool area and 2nd level deck to connect the north and south sides of the property.
Parking is mostly on the north side, including some spaces under cover, with a few spaces near the office and pool, and also by the driveway. A Townhouse sits next to southwest end of the Motel. This is not the same as the “Family Apartment”, which is off site. The Townhouse is a two floor, stucco clad structure, with a white base, and red trim. It also has red/white soft awnings, white vertical railings, and a red shingle roof! The lobby/office is at the southwestern end of the Motel, next to the pool area, and was renovated over this past off-season. A red/white/black colored, rounded awning covers the immediate area leading to the office’s entrance. A beautiful, new neon sign is above this area. It depicts a Matador with the “M” logo in his cape, OFFICE, and a (NO) VACANCY indicator. A red MATADOR neon sign sits rooftop at the southern end, facing west. This duplicates a solid, raised sign once placed against the south wall, which was lit from behind in red. Due to its design and layout, unlike most Motels in The Wildwoods, its back walls – one on each wing – are exposed. Back walls to a Motel are most always nothing special, and if you drive up to the Matador from 16th, your first view of it, aside from the neon, is not from its “good side”. Which is too bad, because it’s an interesting Motel that such a first look doesn’t do justice to. They seem to make the best of the situation by (like the rest of the Motel) keeping a fresh, clean appearance on each “back wall”. On the east wing back wall, murals are painted – one replicating the rooftop neon design, but vertically and with “OCEANFRONT FAMILY RESORT” next to it, and the other replicating the look of the new Matador styled neon by the office. These murals both help the wall from just looking like a big, white slab.
The Matador has mostly very fine reviews on TripAdvisor. Much of whatever negative comments are there don’t seem to be of great significance. Their Facebook page is very well developed, and is definitely worth a look if you haven’t seen it. Many aspects of the Motel, including numerous upgrades and renovations, have documentation with photos, video, etc., above and beyond what I’ve come across from the internet presence of any other Motel on the island. Between this, and their official site, the feeling of a family and staff that are strongly dedicated to the Motel is tangible. It’s always great to see owners doing right by their Motels – it is obviously well loved by them.
I welcome your thoughts on the Matador.
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Doo Wop Discussion #40 - Matador Motel (Read 7248 times)
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