Doo Wop architecture will be featured at night in all its neon glory. (Photo courtesy of Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority)
Admirers of Doo Wop architecture will be able to soak up the neon-splashed skyline in the Wildwoods during nighttime tours this summer.
Visitors can tour the island on trolleys to see retro 1950s and ’60s-era motels, neon signs, landmarks and new examples of Doo Wop architecture emerging in the Wildwoods.
Tours are scheduled to start June 17 and run to August 24 every Tuesday and Thursday night from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Trolley tours begin in front of the Doo Wop Experience Museum at 4500 Ocean Avenue in Wildwood. Tour guides will narrate the Doo Wop scenery during the trolley rides around the island.
The admission fee is $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 years old and younger. There is no charge for children 2 and under.
Reservations are suggested, and tickets are available in person or online here.
Arrive early, or stay later, and explore the free Wildwoods By-The-Sea Doo Wop Experience Museum. Brimming with artifacts, memories, and fascinating history, visitors will experience a celebration of architecture, design, music, pop culture, and everything else that made Wildwood famous in its heyday of the 1950s and 1960s.
Visitors to the Wildwoods will be transported back in time as they drive past plastic palm trees, jutted rooftop angles, uniquely shaped pools, wrought iron balconies, and whimsical names and themes coupled with bright neon signs.
These throwback motels are reminiscent of a time when the mid-century architecture, décor, design, and color of the 1950s and ’60s were in full swing. Often called “googie,” “poplux,” or “Doo Wop,” this style of architecture has deep roots in the Wildwoods and recent business arrivals are embracing it, preserving the unique history while incorporating modern charm.
The Wildwoods By-The-Sea Doo Wop Experience Museum and Neon Night Tours are made possible by the Doo Wop Preservation League, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1997. Their mission is to foster awareness and appreciation of the popular culture and imagery of the 1950s and 1960s, and to promote the preservation of the largest collection of mid-20th century resort architecture found in America.
For additional information, email [email protected], call 609-551-2289, or visit DooWopUSA.org.
