A 1957 Doo-Wop motel by Lou Morey that introduced full-size plastic palm trees to the Wildwoods.
At a glance
The Caribbean Motel stands in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, within the Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District. Built in 1957, it is an early and influential example of the Doo-Wop style that defines the area’s mid-century resort architecture.
History
Lou Morey designed the motel for Dominic and Julie Rossi, its original owners. Morey’s family built many of the first Doo-Wop motels in the Wildwoods. The Rossi family kept the property until the early 1990s, when they sold it to Mister Bolero.
What you see
The Caribbean Motel is the first motel to use full-size plastic palm trees. Those trees now adorn most Doo-Wop motels across South Jersey. They began here.
Cultural significance
The motel sits inside the Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District, a concentration of Doo-Wop architecture recognized for its postwar resort heritage. Its palm trees became a defining visual motif of the region.
Key facts
- Country: United States
- City: Wildwood Crest
- Coordinates: 38.9769, -74.8253
- Part of: Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District
Practical information & getting there
You can find the Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, along the shore. The coordinates 38.9769, -74.8253 will bring you to the property.
Sources & resources
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