Atlantis Lodge, ca. 1956

[fuzzyscorpio]

I randomly pulled a bag of photos out of my dad's stash last weekend and found this, which I can't resist posting... yes, that's me and Dad, and the Atlantis Lodge in the background--our beloved Wildwood Crest hangout for the first 18 years or so. This was probably taken in '56. (Until the zoning code was revised in 1954, motels couldn't be built in Wildwood Crest, says the Wildwood-by-the-Sea book. The Atlantis Lodge was, I believe, the first beachfront motel to open in the Crest.)



There was always so much more to see and do in Wildwood and North Wildwood (much of which passed me by, to my everlasting regret). The Crest was always about the beach and still leads the island in that respect, IMO... which is the main reason I can't stand seeing it turn into condoville, above and beyond the loss of some wonderful motels. That beach should remain an accessible treasure.

[hulk007]

Interesting, that building looks almost the same now as it did when you took the picture. I'm guessing this place never had a pool.

[fuzzyscorpio]

hulk007 said:

Interesting, that building looks almost the same now as it did when you took the picture.

Source: Daniels Realty (danielsdiamond.com)
www.danielsdiamond.com/Details.asp?pMLS=101441

It does, if you mentally remove the third floor and the extension of the north wing. The fact that the pre-sale renovation followed the original structure fairly closely was a small consolation for seeing it go condo, which was a bit of a shock to me back then, coming as it did long before condo fever's big spike.

[Trivia Department: I didn't take the shot in my original post--the brat in that picture is me ] [edit: I'm an oldie, but not quite moldy enough to have been wielding a camera in 1956 ;D]

I'm guessing this place never had a pool.

It did have one, actually, although I can't swear that it was there from day one. It was over on the south edge of the lot, alongside Toledo Ave, and probably would've been partially visible in my shot if the frame had been shifted to the left a bit.

The pool was still there during the condo renovation and sale, and I believe it remains today.

[crazyaboutwildwood]

Nice picture! Thanks for posting!

[hulk007]

Interesting, I didn't notice one. Unless it is more inside the complex. I will check again when I go down the next time but I didn't notice one.

[fuzzyscorpio]

hulk007 said:

Interesting, I didn't notice one. Unless it is more inside the complex. I will check again when I go down the next time but I didn't notice one.

Here's the pool in the early 70s (after the motel had been renamed the Internationale), courtesy Beachrat...



(I almost died when I read the rates in the blurb: "in season from $25.00"... )

[thelastresort]

yes, $25/night seems amazing.

For the heck of it, I ran it on this "inflation calculator" (try it, it's pretty neat)

www.westegg.com/inflation/

$25 in 1970 is $125.95 in 2005 according to this. This is kind of on par with the Caribbean rates today.

www.caribbeanmotel.com/roomsrates.html

[MMM]

Thanks! It is neat. The price is from 1975 though, so it's less than that...

[fuzzyscorpio]

thelastresort said:

$25 in 1970 is $125.95 in 2005 according to this. This is kind of on par with the Caribbean rates today.

www.caribbeanmotel.com/roomsrates.html

Well, I think it would be more appropriate to look at the rates for a place like the Water's Edge, because the Atlantis Lodge/Internationale was right smack on the beach with all rooms facing the ocean, like the Water's Edge. Current rates at the latter for a medium-sized efficiency room are $169-209 in season.

www.watersedgeoceanresort.com/

I know it doesn't say anything about kitchen facilities in the Internationale blurb, but I'm positive we had a stove in those rooms--we used to actually cook and eat the clams we dug up when I was little.

Of course, the Water's Edge is a lot closer to the boardwalk, so you might allow it a premium for that. On the other hand, you have to cross both a street and a wider expanse of beach to get to the ocean. My impression is that rates in the Wildwoods have been running ahead of inflation in recent years. Even at the Caribbean the efficiency room is $165 for most of the seasonal peak... Nice job Mike did on that Web site, I must say

[hulk007]

hulk007 said:

Interesting, I didn't notice one. Unless it is more inside the complex. I will check again when I go down the next time but I didn't notice one.

This looks like it was quite the spot way back when. The place sure was'nt jumping like this when I walked by, in fact there were only two cars on the grounds.