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Post by Cindy on Apr 4, 2006 9:23:50 GMT -5
CondorAlex’s post in “Nice to be here”spawned this thread.
“Welcome Jim. The Millville water tower off of 55 is a landmark on my trips to Wildwood.”
Many of us come from different areas. What are the landmarks that you see while on the way to the shore? (Past and present)
I take 95 to the Tacony Palmyra Bridge, then 73 to the Expressway to the Parkway. A few landmarks that I see are:
*The Muffler Man (RIP, he has been gone for ages) *Pennsauken Market *“All Nude Girls” show place (Our ongoing joke is someone says “I need to go to the bathroon, stop at the next place.) *Mr. Greenjeans *The public storage place. The sign has a mermaid and says “Come stow away with me.” *Mr Bill’s ice cream (another Muffler Man) It is here that I start to look for the Expressway.
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Post by Al Alven on Apr 4, 2006 9:49:23 GMT -5
Great idea, Cindy!
We go down the exact same way you do, so I am very familiar with all of the landmarks you mentioned.
As a quick aside, isn't it amazing how quickly Jersey changes (I'm talkin' redevelopment) on a year-to-year basis? Traveling down Rt. 73, you never know what you're going to see pop up next.
But, I digress...
First, the ones you mentioned:
* The Muffler Man -- Is that the one that was right across the bridge in Pennsauken, which stood outside of the auto dealer there? We remember him well, and the way they used to dress him up for various holidays.
* Pennsauken Mart -- It's either a dump or one of the best little secrets around... but a great landmark regardless.
* "All Nude Girls" -- We used to laugh when we saw the one just past the Pennsauken Mart, but I believe it was demolished last year.
* Mr. Greenjeans -- We used to stop there all the time when traveling with my mom on day trips.
* The public storage mermaid sign -- Quite possibly our (my brother and I) favorite landmark. In fact, we just got a kick out of seeing it on Saturday, when we went down. That sign has been there for years... we love it, because it looks like a man in drag... "Come stow away with me"... priceless!
* Mr. Bill's -- Definitely a great landmark. Neat little place to stop for breakfast or ice cream also. Love the "Alfred E. Newman" muffler man. And we always laugh that the sign on the side of the building has said "FOO" for the past decade or so.
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Post by Al Alven on Apr 4, 2006 10:00:26 GMT -5
Here are some others...
* Jughandle Inn -- Just past the Pennsauken Mart is this great little bar/eatery. They have the best and HOTTEST wings you can get in the Philly area... We rarely stop in on the way to the shore, but it's a cool landmark.
* Olga's Diner -- Very big, majestic-looking place in a great location, with a lot of history. You know you're "on your way" when you see it.
* The Palace Diner at the Berlin Circle -- We've eaten lunch there on the way down many times. I don't know why, but when you pass this area, it's like the "point of no return" to the shore. In a good way, of course.
* Winslow Motor Inn -- Located just past Mr. Bill's... Used to have a great looking moving neon sign that resembled a ferris wheel. Loved passing there and seeing it at night. Anyone remember that?
* The Catalina Motel -- It's the one right outside of Wildwood that you encouter at the base of the ramp after turning off the Parkway. Dinky little place with a neat sign, but we always get excited as it is the first "Wildwood"-type place you see as you head toward the island.
Man, there are so many... I'll have to think of more a little later, as my boss is starting to look over my shoulder from a distance, I think... ;D
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Post by FlyinGN on Apr 4, 2006 10:59:41 GMT -5
we love the jughandle inn!! Great wings and I made the mistake of ordering the hottest they have one time. Oh boy.. never again. The Pennsaulken mart is closed and slated to be demoed for *surprise!* new housing.. Nude girls place is gone Olgas is going downhill too Here are some others... * Jughandle Inn -- Just past the Pennsauken Mart is this great little bar/eatery. They have the best and HOTTEST wings you can get in the Philly area... We rarely stop in on the way to the shore, but it's a cool landmark. * Olga's Diner -- Very big, majestic-looking place in a great location, with a lot of history. You know you're "on your way" when you see it. * The Palace Diner at the Berlin Circle -- We've eaten lunch there on the way down many times. I don't know why, but when you pass this area, it's like the "point of no return" to the shore. In a good way, of course. * Winslow Motor Inn -- Located just past Mr. Bill's... Used to have a great looking moving neon sign that resembled a ferris wheel. Loved passing there and seeing it at night. Anyone remember that? * The Catalina Motel -- It's the one right outside of Wildwood that you encouter at the base of the ramp after turning off the Parkway. Dinky little place with a neat sign, but we always get excited as it is the first "Wildwood"-type place you see as you head toward the island. Man, there are so many... I'll have to think of more a little later, as my boss is starting to look over my shoulder from a distance, I think... ;D
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Post by FlyinGN on Apr 4, 2006 11:17:00 GMT -5
ok my turn. We go over the TP bridge to 130 south to 42 to 55 and into WW over the rio grande bridge. We sometimes go past 55 to 555 to 557 to 50 to 9... But that way is longer but more senic.. As a child we used to go 73 to 54 to 557 to 50 to 9.. but truthfully the rt 55 way is the fastest for us. And we can't wait to get there so its what we usually take. There are not many landmarks.. I can think of a few. * the prison on 47 that we see on the way down * the new Wawa on th e347/47 split where we stop for a pee break * the cape may court house diner on rt 9 in beautiful cape may courthouse. We stop there every year for our vacation breakfast:) * The one part of rt 47 where you have about 1/2 mile of pine tree lined road. All perfectly spaced apart. Its cool as heck to drive thru. * All the houses and restaurants that we see every year.. Can't think of any at the moment. * the WW water dept. pumping station on 47 * Menz's restaurant just before rio grande on 47..
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Post by Al Alven on Apr 4, 2006 13:40:41 GMT -5
we love the jughandle inn!! Great wings and I made the mistake of ordering the hottest they have one time. Oh boy.. never again. The Pennsaulken mart is closed and slated to be demoed for *surprise!* new housing.. Nude girls place is gone Olgas is going downhill too - It's amazing how many people know of the Jughandle Inn, and how many have suffered the wraths of their buffalo wings! Take it from Frank, their hottest wings (I believe they're called the "Thunderbird," interestingly enough) are off the hook! - I wasn't aware that the Pennsauken Mart was already closed, and awaiting demolition. Shows how up-to-date on the local news front I am. So, there's going to be housing in its place? I remember a few years ago, they were talking about the possibilities of a new mall and/or a hockey arena. Guess all of that fell through. - I can't remember the last time we ate at Olga's. Definitely at least five years ago. Sad to hear that the place is going downhill. It's a great local landmark, one that definitely deserves a better reputation.
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Post by ContessaAnisha on Apr 4, 2006 15:06:52 GMT -5
heeheehee---I open my door, and there is Wildwood! Sorry, couldn't help myself!
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Post by wildwood4life on Apr 4, 2006 16:31:17 GMT -5
yeah Olga's isn't all that good anymore....Its actually about 5 min away from my buddy's house so we stop in there on the way home when we go out at night, but its not too good.
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Post by CondorAlex on Apr 4, 2006 17:03:33 GMT -5
Great thread idea, Cindy.
Some of mine aren't mentioned yet, and it shows the various routes and things you can see on your way to the shore. They are all on roads from 55 to 47, and finally 347.
Although there are too many to list them all, here's a few. Off of 55, theres the water tower (of course) and then the Port of Call restaurant at the end. We use the Port of Call as a sort of Half Way point, and we've stopped there a couple of times for a bite to eat on the way down. Food is inexpensive, and not half bad. I can't forget the yellow "El Dorado" motel either, a mark that usually means I will be in motel (or once was) capital of the world very soon.
You also can't forget all of the gigantic lakes, soon after comes the first wiff of salt-water at the bay. Alexander's Farm is one that is so close to Wildwood's bridge, and I like it because my name is Alexander and I've remembered it since I was a child.
But here is a really rare one. There is a sign on the right side of the road heading down that is partially hidden in some trees, but no so much that you can't read it. In white with a pink background on the way down it reads "Jesus Loves You" and on the way back reads "God Loves You". It is right after the St. Elizabeth's church on 347, has anyone seen this before?
The the final landmark on my trip would be a run down, once operating gas station turning off of 347, on the way to the North Wildwood bridge. It kind of speaks to me as, if you turn here and keep going straight, you'll soon be in heaven. Nothing is more comforting than finally seeing that area of land near the very end of the trip.
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Post by wildwanderer on Apr 4, 2006 19:41:34 GMT -5
Let's see On the Way to Cape May... The Harrison House on Rt. 45 and 322. The many fruit and veg., stands on Rt.322, The shopping centers along Rt. 55. Your driving along in the dark and you see stores, you know you're not that far to the beach. Wheaton Village, the big sign all lit up telling you the next exit for the village,the protect the grasses signs along 55, wake-up strips, wake-up signs, and then rt.347 the forest road, blah, after that the enjoyment of rt. 47 and the houses, restaurants, old boats, cars, trucks etc... to much to list.
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mike
Full Member
Posts: 170
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Post by mike on Apr 4, 2006 20:32:24 GMT -5
El Dorado" motel looks like a murder waiting to happen.lol how about the sod farm on 47
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Post by Crippled_Visions on Apr 4, 2006 21:30:07 GMT -5
The El Dorado on Route 47 is a true dive. I wonder how that place actually stays in business. The screened in room in the front of the motel looks like a real treat.
We also notice the Port of Call restuarant on Route 47. It is funny because it has a Port o Potty next to the restuarant.
Another landmark on 47 is the Tuckahoe Inn. I love to Tuck A Ho in.
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Post by Al Alven on Apr 4, 2006 21:46:10 GMT -5
I don't take Rt. 47 much, so I don't really know of the El Dorado Motel. I'm intrigued enough now that I might have to take a ride by it this summer, perhaps trying a new way to Wildwood once or twice.
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Post by huntspier4ever on Apr 4, 2006 21:53:09 GMT -5
The El Dorado on Route 47 is a true dive. I wonder how that place actually stays in business. The screened in room in the front of the motel looks like a real treat. We also notice the Port of Call restuarant on Route 47. It is funny because it has a Port o Potty next to the restuarant. Another landmark on 47 is the Tuckahoe Inn. I love to Tuck A Ho in. I didn't realize there was another Tuckahoe Inn... the only one I know of is located on Rt. 9; right before the Beesley's Point Bridge (which is closed now). You can also see the restaurant from the GSP Bridge too.
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Post by writhinganacondo on Apr 4, 2006 22:41:27 GMT -5
How about that ancient cemetery in middle of 347? We're talking early so. NJ here....like Ben Franklin era. Also that old white house behind the big horse pasture just north of the El Dorado. Good photo-ops both of these. Very Weird NJ.
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