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Post by underwoodskee on Jul 1, 2006 11:12:10 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has stayed at the Olympic Island Beach Resort? If so, did you like this hotel?
Thanks, Stephen Underwood
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Post by dolfinmusic on Jul 2, 2006 12:07:43 GMT -5
Sorry - I have never been. Are you booked there?
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Post by crazyaboutwildwood on Jul 2, 2006 15:20:13 GMT -5
It looks to be in great condition. We stayed near it when we stayed at the cape cod and from the 4th floor the olympic looks really nice!
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Post by underwoodskee on Jul 3, 2006 14:54:55 GMT -5
Yes we are booked there. We waited till two weeks before our vacation to book a room!! I'm kinda surprised we found a place on the beach that had a room available.
Stephen
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Post by dolfinmusic on Jul 3, 2006 15:21:11 GMT -5
Have fun! When are you going?? The place does look nice. Might be interested in booking it for a weekend!
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Post by underwoodskee on Jul 3, 2006 17:18:43 GMT -5
We are heading there next Monday and staying for four nights. We will be sure to give a review when we get back.
Stephen
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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 19, 2006 8:57:35 GMT -5
I absolutely LOVE their sign. You can never have too much neon!
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Post by Al Alven on Jul 19, 2006 9:29:58 GMT -5
Rob, being that you have vacationed regularly at the Cape Cod, I'm sure you're very familiar with the view of Ocean Ave. (looking south) from the top floor of that motel.
As you most likely saw in our previous posts, both myself and crazyaboutwildwood (Mike C.) stayed at the C.C. for the first time this year.
Mike stayed there one night over Memorial Weekend, and told me about the awesome view. I came down a few weeks later and... wow... it really is something!
The most striking, to me, was the Olympic sign, which is huge... so bright and visible even from a few blocks away. Definitely one of the more striking, beautiful signs added in recent years.
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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 19, 2006 9:41:47 GMT -5
Yeah, and it's nice to hear that people are staying at the Cape Cod Inn. While staying there all the time has limited my exposure to other Wildwood motels, I've always felt it was one of the island's better places, going by what I've seen and what I've heard. As much as I want to try some other places (especially before they're all gone), there is something about the Cape Cod Inn that makes me feel "at home".
I have tried numerous times to take nighttime photos of the Island Beach sign but it's always too bright for my camera and it comes out all wrong. I like the sign because they could have put up something much less imaginative but they didn't- they went all-out.
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Post by Doo Wop Mike D on Jul 19, 2006 14:47:41 GMT -5
Here's a question for everyone that gets to the heart of your views on preservation... In the case of the Olympic Island Beach Resort (which was originally just the "Olympic Motor Inn"), which would you rather see today... The current post-2000 "Island Beach" neon sign which is definitely one of the more colorful, elaborate and bright neon signs in the Wildwoods today... this captures the feeling of Doo Wop and carries on the tradition of neon signage and in-your-face themes, but can hardly be considered a "vintage" style sign... or... The original (or at least the prior) neon rooftop sign (which I'm pretty sure was there through the '90s) which went with the original Olympic theme and is more of the vintage category with the big rooftop letters, giving the motel more of that authentic '60s/'70s look... I know the short answer is we'll take either one over vinyl-sided condos anyday... but it is an interesting point... with the motels that are still left, do you think its more appropriate for the cause of Doo Wop to see them restored/maintained to their original exterior appearance to make the area a real "historic district" or do you think its better to simply keep the spirit alive and continue to encourage new signs, new themes, new ideas, etc... that aren't authentic or "historic", but keep Wildwood's identity unique nonetheless... Thoughts?
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Post by Al Alven on Jul 19, 2006 15:24:11 GMT -5
Great question, Mike.
OK… (deep breath)… here we go…
I’m going to go with the new, more “flashy” modern look… even though I am personally partial to the old style, more “authentic,” vintage Wildwood version.
Why? Well, in a perfect world, we would like for everything to stay the same, right? The original designs for a place like the Olympic or, perhaps, the Bolero (remember the old neon bull fighter?) would be maintained and our favorites would remain just the way they are year after year.
But, you know, sometimes with the passage of time, we come to realize that this isn’t always such a great thing. Sometimes, change is good, and the benefits of a given era putting its own stamp on a singular institution, a landmark or (in the broader sense as it relates to the Wildwoods) an entire island before more apparent.
And, with that, I’m certainly not saying that change for the sake of change is always a good thing (have I lost anyone yet?)… But change, in a somewhat-controlled, moderate sense is inevitable and essential in virtually all aspects of… well… life.
I’m not trying to get all “deep” here (and, hell yes, I’m rambling! ;D), but I hope everyone sees my point.
As I look at the older pic of the Olympic and, in some ways, yearn for “yesteryear” and get all nostalgic, I do have to admit that the motel looks “dated.” Again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing on its own, but before “condemning” it in the least, I have to ask myself about the positives that have come about as a result of the physical transformation.
I can’t tell say how many times I’ve heard people compliment that huge, colorful neon sign on the north side of the building. It’s hardly “vintage,” but then again, nothing starts out as “vintage” anyway. Give it some time, and perhaps when they remove it in 35 years (hypothetically, of course), people will bemoan the loss of a classic, en masse.
You've got to move with the times... have to evolve... otherwise, you become a dinosaur... and you ultimately fade away...
OK, before I completely lose track of what I’m even talking about, I think it’s generally a good idea to give change a chance… given, of course, that the alterations in question keep the broad sense of spirit and uniqueness in mind when it comes to the institutions of the Wildwoods.
How do you define that, exactly? Well, that’s a very subjective question… but it’s one that every individual can ask him/herself. In this case, while I really liked the old-style design of the Olympic, I think the positives of the new modifications far outweigh any of the negatives.
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Post by Al Alven on Jul 19, 2006 15:44:39 GMT -5
*Whew* Now, having said all of that (I wanted the above to stand alone, as that is the “essence” of my feelings on the issue), I do wish that places like the Olympic and Bolero managed to squeeze more of the aspects of their former, individual themes into their newer concepts… But that is certainly a smaller “complaint” in the grand scheme of things.
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Post by wildre on Jul 19, 2006 20:13:21 GMT -5
I'll continue this ramble...since I have lots to say but it all comes down to the same old stuff I like the old DooWop motels that have been updated. So I guess in a prefect world I would have to say a mix of the old updated motels with up to the minute amenities and the new DooWop architecture with a blend of the old feeling, with the current tends in accommodations. We have to realize change has to occur in order to grow. Look how Wildwood went downhill when everything was left to fester as it was. This island stood still for too many years to be considered a real player but these times are hopefully over forever. The Island has to continue to re invent itself in order to grow but hopefully with some of it's history intact. The future can be built with our past as a cornerstone, but plans have to be laid carefully for the future. I'm not sure everyone who can affect changes has a shared vision, I often feel these groups are at cross purposes, no link from group to group. To my knowledge there is no single group charged with planning for the future at this time. Until The Wildwoods can become ONE, the vision and planning will be clouded by too many groups planning for the future of several small areas. There needs to be a direction, a concept and a process in place to reach whatever the vision is for the entire Island as a whole not just WW, or NW or WC. Each of which can retain what makes them unique and different from the others while shaping an Island wide vision, that we needed to succeed. I guess it all boills down to What do The Wildwoods want to be when it grows up?Well that's my 2 cents re
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Post by MMM on Jul 19, 2006 20:59:41 GMT -5
I'd rather see the original sign restored if necessary, or even replicated in a new sign, ala the Bel Air.
However, I LOVE the new Olympic sign. I think I prefer the looks of it to the original. Like Mike said, at least it's something neat looking that screams WILDWOOD. If it didn't come out so well I might be more critical, but as it is I really can't fault the owners for it.
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Post by crazyaboutwildwood on Jul 19, 2006 22:08:59 GMT -5
Good point Martin. I really dont like the way the new Sams looks, but they are packing them in there! I still wish they could add some neon or somthing to that place.
Does anyone have those pictures of the old Bolero Signs. Was that Cowboy part of that?
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