Lucy the Elephant is one of the most iconic images of the Jersey Shore – and readers of USA Today have confirmed it, naming Lucy the No. 1 Roadside Attraction in America.
Lucy was built in 1881 to attract real estate buyers to Margate, which was known as South Atlantic City at the time, according to the Save Lucy Committee. There was a new railroad that dropped off passengers right beside Lucy so kids and adults alike could marvel at the giant structure. The original name given by James V. Lafferty, Jr. when he built the structure was Elephant Bazaar. A future owner, Sophia Gertzen, changed the name to Lucy – but in Asian elephants males develop large tusks so Lucy is actually a boy, according to FAQs about Lucy.
Lucy suffered a lot of damage because of the conditions along the water. He was almost demolished in 1969 so the Save Lucy Committee stepped in to save him. He reopened in 1974 after 12 years of exterior renovations at a location down the street – imagine how much work it took to move a 90-ton elephant down the road! Two years later he was designated as a National Historic Landmark.
In the 1990s the committee wanted to restore the interior, but a lot of the wood from the 1970s restoration in the structure had rotted due to a moisture problem. By 2000 everything was taken care of.
Around 2021 additional renovations started, including fixing up the metal exterior and wooden framing. The 140-year-old pachyderm had been closed for 15 months through January 2023 for $2.4 million worth of renovations. Now, you can see him from the outside, or head inside to see the magic up close!
Lucy is open daily. There is no charge to look at the beautiful structure, but if you’d like to go inside you must purchase a ticket for a guided tour. Tours take place every 45 minutes and last about 20-25 minutes. The cost is $9 for adults (ages 19 and up), $8.50 for teens ages 13-18, $5 for children (ages 3-12), free for kids younger than 2; and free for members of the U.S. military with valid ID. There are spiral stairs inside her hind legs so she is not completely wheelchair accessible, but you can still check out the grounds and the gift shop, which has moved across the street to 9219 Atlantic Avenue (corner of Atlantic and Washington avenues). Lucy is located at 9200 Atlantic Ave. (1 Lucy Plaza) in Margate. There is limited free two-hour parking available on site.
Check out our Instagram page to see this beautiful, handsome attraction down the Jersey Shore.
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