-Courtesy of Aversa PR & Events
photo by Madison Resort Wildwood Crest
Madison Resorts and Founder Dan Alicea are proud to announce the opening of Cape May County’s largest and newest beach resort. Madison Resort Wildwood Crest will officially open at 7201 Ocean Avenue on Thursday, May 16th, with a special ceremony and ribbon cutting at 1:30pm featuring local dignitaries. For Alicea and his team, this has been a project two years in the making. The new resort will bring together the historic doo-wop stylings of the Oceanview Motel and combine it with the iconic Royal Hawaiian property next door, for one giant resort that will feature 200 guest rooms, three restaurants, two pools, cabana and poolside seating for 100+, two hot tubs, beachfront weddings, two fitness centers, five conference rooms, two rooftop event spaces and pet-friendly accommodations.
Madison Resorts has invested more than $52M into the project which included major top to bottom renovations at both former hotels – while celebrating and preserving the doo-wop style architecture that Oceanview Motel was famous for. The first tower of rooms is available immediately for those that want to be the first guests to experience the resort, with all towers and rooms online by grand opening weekend starting May 16th. For room bookings, entertainment line-ups and more info, visit www.madisonresortwildwoodcrest.com and follow @madisonresortwildwoodcrest.
“We’re thrilled to bring our Madison Resorts family to the Wildwood Crest community,” said Alicea. “With this opening, we’re excited to help save and preserve an important piece of Wildwood Crest history, while bringing the Jersey shore its largest new resort. We’ve invested more than $52M in this project as we’re feeling bullish about the future of Wildwood Crest, Cape May and the Jersey Shore. We made a promise to preserve the architecture of the past with our renovation of this property. 2024 marks 60 years since this property was built. There’s no way that we would stand for anything but a full restoration of this iconic structure.”
“Our expansion into Wildwood Crest is also a homecoming for my wife, Stephanie, who was born and raised in Wildwood Crest,” he added. “This community means so much to her and our family, and we couldn’t be happier to make history with the property’s next chapter.”
“On behalf of the Borough of Wildwood Crest, I look forward to the opening of Madison Resort Wildwood Crest,” said Wildwood Crest Mayor Don Cabrera. “We have watched the progression of a once dilapidated motel evolve into a first class resort in the hub of our community right before our eyes. Its transformation maintains some of the original architectural features with a modern day feel. I wish them much success.”
Madison Resort Wildwood Crest is a project more than two years in the making, with a major investment in the community that grew from $12M to over $52M. The ambitious project started with the purchase of The Oceanview Motel. The Motel was a beach front building that was built in 1964, and at the time was the largest motel ever built in The Wildwoods.
Over recent years, members of the Doo-Wop Preservation League, Wildwood Historical Society and the Greater Wildwood Hotel and Motel Association lobbied to keep the property intact to retain its famous architecture. In August of 2022, Madison Resorts stepped in to save the shuttered mid-century gem from being demolished. After two years of renovations, the final finished design now incorporates the retro era into the modern culture giving the property a look and feel that blends with Wildwood’s rich doo wop era history.
After work was fully underway on the site of the Oceanview, Madison Resorts then purchased The Royal Hawaiian in December of 2023. The Royal Hawaiian was an adjacent motel across the street at the corner of Orchid Street and Ocean Avenue. This property was in operation until the prior year and didn’t need the same amount of overhaul that the Oceanview did. Madison Resorts decided to double down and add this property to their portfolio – and with its purchase aimed to create a super resort unlike anything that currently exists in Cape May County.
“Buying The Royal Hawaiian was an easy decision for us,” said Alicea. “It was another great restoration project and the location was undeniable. Being able to operate both resorts as one by combining amenities is going to be a game changer for Wildwood Crest.”
With construction crews working right next door, the Madison Resorts team made quick and significant progress on updates to what will now be referred to as “The Royal Tower.” The Royal Tower (formerly The Royal Hawaiian) is now adorned with a large Madison logo cascading down the face of the building along with their signature sky blue color accenting. Just one block up you’ll come to The Madison Tower (formerly The Oceanview). The Madison team created a modern marvel in Wildwood Crest with this building. The signature blast off roof and lobby have been completely rebuilt from the ground up, the pool is brand new with the addition of a hot tub and children’s pool, cabanas have been added for a chic lounge vibe along with a flex space filled with additional umbrella covered seating and hammocks.
Upon entering the lobby, visitors will see vintage touches like a Crosley record player and refurbished mid century tv set playing classic beach movies. Once past the check-in area, guests will enter the second floor conference area and continue on to the future home of the restaurant. They can then head up to their room to be wowed at the level of detail that has been used to keep the rooms both vintage and modern at the same time.
“The complete restoration of the iconic and historic lobby of the former Admiral East is a huge victory, not only for the historic preservation community, but for the entire island of The Wildwoods,” said Doo Wop Preservation League President John Donio. “Dan Alicea and his team have proven that doo-wop can be modernized and kept exciting for an entirely new generation of travelers.”
DAS Architects out of Philadelphia put together the initial design for the property updates. They’re known for projects such as Reed’s in Stone Harbor, The Boarding House in Cape May and The Hyatt Centric in Philadelphia among others. They were asked to draw from the iconic doo-wop stylings of the Oceanview and other local doo-wop themed properties while incorporating modern aesthetics. Construction efforts were led by BJ Kramer of MCFA Construction. The management and execution for the interior design was led by Madison Resort’s Brand and Marketing Director Lindsay Taylor.
“Drawing from my background in fashion design, I found inspiration in the timeless elegance and harmony of doo-wop culture for our resort in Wildwood Crest,” said Taylor. “The vibrant colors and vintage charm of doo-wop have shaped every aspect of our design, creating a unique and immersive experience for our guests. Doo-wop isn’t just an era or a piece of decor, it’s a feeling you get when you walk into a room and Keep on Dancing by the Gentry’s is playing on a record player- kind of like when you walk in the front doors of our lobby.”
RESORT HIGHLIGHTS AND AMENITIES
Madison Resort delivers a unified experience at Madison Resort Wildwood Crest, merging two properties into a single expansive resort with distinctive towers. Shared amenities include:
* 3 restaurants
* 2 pools
* 2 hot tubs
* Beachfront weddings
* 2 fitness centers
* 5 conference rooms
* 2 rooftop event spaces
* Pet-friendly accommodations
* Beach service including towels, chairs and umbrellas for guests.
* Poolside cabanas are available for reservations and will include food and beverage service.
* Daily poolside live music starting in July (and the weekends May – June)
* Swinging hammocks, bistro lighting, outdoor dining tables
ROOMS
Guests will enter a beachfront oasis and know they are at the shore once they step into their room at Wildwood Crest. Almost all of the guest rooms in both buildings will feature a partial or full ocean view. All rooms in both towers are equipped with micro appliances including refrigerator, coffee maker, flatscreen TV and more. All rooms have inside seating with a couch and bistro table and chairs along with outdoor seating. Bathrooms feature large, modern showers with ADA options available.
The rooms at the Ocean Tower are all completely brand new – all rooms were brought down to the studs and rebuilt, redesigned and feature all new furniture, mattresses, appliances, decor and more. The Ocean Tower rooms feature the signature modern doo wop styling with vintage colors and retro style micro appliances to add to the vibe. The rooms at the Royal Tower are completely renovated with all new mattresses, furniture and decor. The Royal Tower is designed to be family and pet friendly.
BEACHFRONT WEDDINGS
Madison Resorts aims to create their signature #MadisonMoments with beachfront weddings that are remembered for generations to come. With over 200 guest rooms, multiple locations on property to host your wedding weekend activities, an in-house catering team and a partnership with Schaffer Sounds, wedding packages will have everything a couple needs for a seamless wedding experience. Pair this with a gorgeous beach front ceremony and each happy couple will have memories that will last a lifetime. Wedding booking information can be found at madisonresorts.com/wildwood-crest-events
COMMITMENT TO EVENTS, MUSIC AND FUN
Madison Resorts, renowned for its vibrant approach to hospitality, boasts a solid reputation with the Montreal Beach Resort and Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille in Cape May. Over the past two years, they’ve curated numerous live entertainment shows, St. Patrick’s Day festivities, wine dinners, and most notably, transformed Harry’s into “Harry’s Jingle Bar”.
SUMMER LINE-UP
Memorial Weekend / Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27th
Poolside DJ Vibes daily from 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Let’s Go Girls Weekend Wildwood Crest / Friday, June 7th to Sunday, June 9th
At Madison, We Do Country / Barefoot Country Music Fest Weekend
Thursday, June 20th to Sunday, June 23rd
Barefoot Country Weekend Kickoff / Thursday, June 20th
11:00am to 8:00pm
Barefoot Country Weekend All-Day Party / Friday, June 21st
11:00am to 8:00pm
Silent Headphone and Fireworks Party / Friday, June 21st
7:00pm to 10:00pm
Barefoot Country Weekend All-Day Party / Saturday, June 22nd
11:00am to 8:00pm
Barefoot Country Weekend All-Day Party / Sunday, June 23rd
11:00am to 8:00pm
Poolside DJ Vibes Every Day for Summer
Seven Days a Week, 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Starting Thursday, June 27th / Weather permitting
Taylor Swift Tribute Event and Fireworks / Thursday, July 4th
The 1st Annual Luau / Saturday, August 17th
For the full list up upcoming events & entertainment go to the event calendar madisonresortwildwoodcrest.com/events-calendar/
BOOK YOUR STAY NOW
With reservations now open to the public, guests can experience the brand-new Madison Resort in Wildwood Crest. For a grand opening special, Madison Resorts will offer guests 15% off with code MADISON through June 18th. Blackout dates and minimum stay requirements may apply. New reservations only. May not be combined with any other offer.
For the property’s first Memorial Day Weekend, Madison Resort Wildwood Crest will offer a complimentary night stay so you don’t have to leave and deal with shore traffic. Stay at the Resort between May 23 and May 28th – and get the night of May 27th at no charge. Minimum three night stay required. Book online using code MDW24 or call 609-884-7011. May not be combined with any other offer.
For the new Rise and Shine package, enjoy breakfast for two each day of any stay between May 24 and September 26, 2024, using RISE24 for The Ocean Tower and SHINE24 for The Royal Tower. May not be combined with any other offer.
For more special offers, resort information or to book a stay, contact the office at (609) 389-6666 or visit madisonresortwildwoodcrest.com.
Madison Resort looks forward to welcoming guests to an unforgettable experience, combining modern luxury with historic charm in the heart of Cape May County. Make your #MadisonMoments down the shore.
Be sure to follow Madison Resort Wildwood Crest @madisonresortwildwoodcrest and Madison Resorts @madisonresorts on social media for live updates on the opening, exclusive looks behind the scenes and upcoming events.
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