10 Retro Motels from the 1960s to Stay at on the Jersey Shore
Ten vintage motels along the Jersey coast where 1960s neon, pastel doors, and summer nostalgia never went out of style.
Chateau Bleu Motel (no longer in operation) | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
There’s something cinematic about New Jersey’s shoreline motels. The low-slung buildings, glowing signs, and patterned pool decks still look like postcards from 1964. In a world of identical hotels and polished resorts, these places hold onto the character that once defined the American beach trip, where you could drive straight up to your room, toss your bags inside, and be in the ocean ten minutes later.
They were built during what locals call the Doo-Wop era, when mid-century design met the optimism of the postwar road trip. The result was hundreds of motels across the Wildwoods that celebrated color, kitsch, and convenience. Today, a handful still stand almost exactly as they did: neon intact, railings chrome, and names that sound like summer dreams.
1. Caribbean Motel (Wildwood Crest)
Caribbean Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 5600 Ocean Avenue, Wildwood Crest, NJ
Price: from $90 a night
Built in 1957, the Caribbean Motel was one of the first in the Wildwoods to embrace full Doo-Wop flair. Its crescent-shaped pool, plastic palm trees, and sweeping cantilevered ramp made it a local landmark. Today it’s on the National Register of Historic Places and still looks like a technicolor film set. The turquoise trim, pink lighting, and classic signage make it feel both nostalgic and strangely current, a backdrop that hasn’t lost its edge.
2. Jolly Roger Motel (Wildwood Crest)
Jolly Roger Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 6805 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood Crest, NJ
Price: from $120 a night
Built in the early 1960s, the Jolly Roger Motel is one of the Wildwoods’ most classic stays, known for its vintage sign crowned with a pirate flag that still flutters above the street. The rooms and pool area maintain their mid-century charm, while the exterior’s crisp lines and nautical colors recall the optimism of the era. It’s cheerful, unfussy, and unmistakably retro, the kind of motel that looks like it belongs on a summer postcard.
3. Monaco Motel (Wildwood)
Ocean Sands Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 4211 Ocean Avenue, Wildwood, NJ
Price: from $100 a night
Built in the 1960s, the Monaco Motel sits just a block from the Wildwood Boardwalk and still looks like something out of a mid-century travel postcard. Its bright façade, angled balconies, and retro sign recall the golden age of family road trips. The rooms are simple and beachy, and the atmosphere feels authentic to the Wildwoods’ Doo-Wop era, staying laid-back, sun-faded, and unmistakably local.
4. Beach Colony Motel (Wildwood Crest)
Beach Colony Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 500 East Orchid Road, Wildwood Crest, NJ
Price: from $120 a night
The Beach Colony Motel is a smart example of how retro can be revived without losing its soul. Built during the 1960s motel boom, it has kept the bright geometry, breezeblock details, and low-slung pool deck that defined the era. The neon accents and playful signage give it that Doo-Wop feel, while updated rooms and ocean views make it just as inviting today as it was when beach trips meant station wagons and postcards.
5. Malibu Motel (North Wildwood)
Malibu Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 1901 Ocean Avenue, North Wildwood, NJ
Price: from $130 a night
Opened in the early 1960s, the Malibu Motel is one of the Wildwoods’ most recognizable retro landmarks. Its curved balconies, palm-lined pool, and bright turquoise accents capture the easy glamour of the era. At night, the neon script glows over the street, echoing the golden age of summer vacations. Despite modern updates, the motel still feels true to its roots, from the breezeblock walls to the chrome trim that frames every corner.
6. Apollo Resort Motel (Wildwood Crest)
Apollo Resort Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 407 East Monterey Avenue, Wildwood Crest, NJ
Price: from $110 a night
Built in 1969, the Apollo Resort Motel stands as one of the last classic mid-century stays in the Wildwoods. The property keeps its clean lines, retro signage, and signature poolside setup that defined the golden era of Jersey Shore motels. The vibe is simple and nostalgic, with pastel railings and a bright marquee that still lights up the night sky. It feels timeless, like the kind of place families have been returning to for generations.
7. Lollipop Motel (North Wildwood)
Lollipop Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 2301 Atlantic Avenue, North Wildwood, NJ
Price: from $150 a night
Built in 1959, the Lollipop Motel is pure pop-art nostalgia. The candy-colored doors, cheerful signage, and perfectly preserved neon make it one of the Wildwoods’ most photographed stays. The theme feels effortless, and the motel manages to be both playful and genuinely authentic.
8. Sea n Sun Resort Motel (Wildwood)
Sea n Sun Resort Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 3909 Ocean Avenue, Wildwood, NJ
Price: from $100 a night
Built in the early 1960s, the Sea n Sun Resort Motel holds the classic beach-town spirit with its two-story layout, neon sign, poolside sun deck, and pastel railings. Just steps from the boardwalk, it keeps the easy-going summer rhythm that defined the era while maintaining the charm that draws travelers back year after year.
9. Bristol Plaza Motel (Wildwood Crest)
Bristol Plaza Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 6407 Ocean Avenue, Wildwood Crest, NJ
Price: from $120 a night
Originally opened around 1970, the Bristol Plaza holds onto the tail end of the Doo-Wop era. The angled balconies, geometric railings, and vintage font on the marquee give it that recognizable Wildwood look. It’s large enough to feel like a resort, but the vibe stays distinctly mid-century.
10. Gold Crest Resort Motel (Wildwood Crest)
Gold Crest Resort Motel | Photo: Tyler Haughey, “Ebb Tide”
Address: 6611 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood Crest, NJ
Price: from $140 a night
Built in 1967, the Gold Crest is one of the last great Doo-Wop motels of the Wildwoods. The building’s bright yellow panels and pool-facing balconies are pure nostalgia, but the rooms have been refreshed just enough for comfort. It’s the kind of place that still lights up at night, glowing in gold neon, as if the ’60s never really ended.