Six-Story Elephant is a Jersey Shore Must-See!
The Jersey shore is no stranger to weird and wonderful sites – from the now dismantled telephone pole field at Good Luck Point, to the World War II bunker on the beach and the concrete ship SS Atlantus off the shore in Cape May, to Madame Marie’s psychic booth on the Asbury Park boardwalk (where New Jersey’s favorite sons Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra both had their fortunes told), we definitely have our share of unusual and interesting sights to see. Perhaps the most wonderful of these though is Lucy the Elephant in Margate NJ – a six-story oddity that has graced the Jersey shore for over a century.
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Lucy the Elephant was built in 1881 by James Lafferty, a real estate speculator who built the towering pachyderm in an attempt to lure tourists and potential property buyers to Absecon Island. Lucy first served as a real estate office (Lafferty would escort prospective customers up to the “howdah carriage” at the top of the structure to show off breathtaking views of the shoreline, Atlantic Ocean, and seaside resort of Atlantic City), a restaurant, a rentable summer cottage, and even a tavern (until the Prohibition era forced its closure).
From her earliest days, people have come from far and wide to see and tour Lucy the Elephant. The massive Margate structure stands 65 feet high, 60 feet long, and 18 feet wide and is made of nearly a million pieces of wood, features 22 windows (including her two round eyes). Construction of the behemoth required 200 kegs of nails, 4 tons of bolts and iron bars, and 12,000 square feet of tin to construct.
After Prohibition closed the tavern that Lucy housed, she sat vacant and abandoned until the 1960s, when – sadly – she was slated for demolition. Fortunately, the citizens of Margate rallied around Lucy and undertook an impressive campaign to save her, raising the needed funds to move her to her present home at Decatur Avenue (Yes – they actually rolled a 65-foot high elephant down Atlantic Avenue!) and restore her to her former glory. In 1976, Lucy the Elephant was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Today, visitors are invited to tour Lucy the Elephant, ascending up a spiral staircase in her left rear leg, first to her torso and then up to the restored open-air howdah for breathtaking views of Absecon Island. The tour features a short video and photographs highlighting Lucy’s history. Every year in July, a birthday celebration is held for Lucy. The event features amusement rides, kids’ activities, carnival games, great food, and more. The event raises funds to preserve Lucy for future generations of Jersey shore visitors.
Visiting Lucy The Elephant
Lucy the Elephant is located at the intersection of South Decatur and Atlantic Avenues in Margate NJ. There is no charge to visit the grounds. Guided tours are $8 for visitors ages 13 and up and $4 for children ages 3 -12. Admission is complimentary for members of the US Military (with valid ID) and children ages 2 & under. See Lucy’s website for hours.
Featured Photo Credit: Matt Herbison via Flickr
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