The
Doo Wop Motel District, officially recognized as the "Wildwoods Shore
Resort Historic District" by the State of New Jersey, lies primarily in the
municipality of Wildwood Crest, along a two mile stretch between Atlantic
and Ocean avenues.
Within this district, you'll find the largest concentration
of Doo Wop, or mid-century commercial, motels in the nation! Block after block
features motel after motel after motel, each with its own unique fantasy theme,
eye-catching sign, vivid color pallette and kitschy ornamentation.
 "The
Strip" of motels along Ocean Avenue in
Wildwood Crest begins to light
up at dusk. | Colorful
motels line both sides of the street as you walk or drive
down Wildwood Crest's
lively Ocean Avenue. |  The
Caribbean and Bel Air motels, one after another, are icons
of Doo Wop as you
head south on Ocean Avenue. |
Over
50 vintage motels still stand today within this unique district. Up until the
late 1990s, nearly 100 motels stood within this district alone, virtually untouched
since their original construction in the 1950s and 60s. Between the years 2000
and 2005, unchecked real estate development & speculation in the area led
to the demolition of several noteable motels, while others have undergone significant
renovation. Today, the Doo Wop Preservation League works with local business &
property owners, city planning & zoning officials, and the state historic
preservation office to help ensure that the remaining historic structures in this
district will be preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
Outside
this district, you'll find a smattering of Doo Wop motels and "mini-districts"
throughout the island, including some unique stand-outs along Atlantic and Surf
Avenues in North Wildwood, such as the landmarked Chateau Bleu, Panoramic
Motel, and Lollipop Motel, as well as a small concentration of neon-lit motels
along Ocean Avenue in this area. Center-city Wildwood features an array
of motels scattered about its Ocean, Atlantic and Pacific Avenues, as well as
a newly designated high-rise hotel district that is the first of its kind in the
nation to enforce "Doo Wop" design guidelines for new construction!
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