Lucy is a six-story wooden elephant built in 1881 on the New Jersey shore

Lucy the Elephant stands in Margate City, New Jersey, about nine miles south of Atlantic City. She is 65 feet tall, weighs 90 tons, and was built in 1881 as a tourist attraction and boarding house. The structure is made of wood and sheet metal, with a howdah (a passenger compartment) on her back that once held rooms where visitors could stay overnight. Today, Lucy is a museum you can tour, not a place to sleep.

Lucy was built by James V. Lafferty, a Philadelphia businessman who wanted to draw visitors to the undeveloped Margate shore. The elephant was meant to be a novelty — something so unusual that people would travel specifically to see it. The strategy worked. Lucy became famous along the East Coast and remains one of the oldest roadside attractions in the United States.

The structure has survived hurricanes, nor'easters, fires, and more than 140 years of salt air and weather. She was restored in the 1970s and again in the 2000s. The restoration work replaced rotted wood, reinforced the frame, and repainted the exterior. Despite her age, Lucy still stands on the same plot of land where she was built.

Key Takeaways

  • Lucy the Elephant is located at 9200 Atlantic Avenue in Margate City, New Jersey, about 9 miles south of Atlantic City.
  • The structure was built in 1881 as a boarding house and tourist attraction, and the howdah on her back originally contained guest rooms.
  • Lucy is 65 feet tall and made of wood and sheet metal, making her one of the oldest roadside attractions in the United States.
  • Visitors can tour the interior of Lucy today, climbing stairs to view the structure from different levels and learn about her history.

How to visit Lucy and what to expect inside

Lucy is open to the public as a museum. Visitors enter through a door at ground level and climb narrow wooden stairs that wind up through her legs and body. The stairs lead to the howdah, where you can look out through windows and see the Atlantic Ocean and Margate's boardwalk. The tour takes about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on how long you spend at each level.

The interior is not climate-controlled, so it can be hot in summer and cold in winter. The stairs are steep and narrow, and there is no elevator. Visitors with mobility issues or fear of heights may find the climb difficult. Children must be supervised, as the railings are low by modern standards.

Lucy's museum shop sells postcards, books about her history, and small souvenirs. Admission fees vary by season and age. Group tours are available by reservation. The site also hosts special events throughout the year, including historical talks and themed celebrations.

Lucy's role in roadside attraction history

Lucy was built during the era when roadside attractions were a new form of entertainment. Before highways and car travel became common, most people did not travel far from home. As roads improved and automobiles became affordable, families began taking road trips. Roadside attractions like Lucy were built to draw travelers off the main route and into small towns.

Lucy's design was unusual for her time. Giant animal structures were not common in 1881. The elephant shape was chosen partly because elephants were exotic and fascinating to Americans who had never seen one in person. The novelty of the structure — combined with the promise of a place to stay and eat — made Lucy a destination in her own right.

Many roadside attractions from Lucy's era have been demolished or abandoned. Lucy survived because the Margate community recognized her historical value and invested in her preservation. She is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means she is recognized as historically significant and protected from demolition.

The restoration work that saved Lucy from decay

By the 1970s, Lucy had suffered decades of damage from weather, salt spray, and wood rot. The wooden frame was deteriorating, and parts of the structure were unsafe. A group of Margate residents formed the Lucy the Elephant Corporation to raise money for restoration. The first major restoration began in 1976 and took several years to complete.

The restoration team had to replace large sections of rotted wood while keeping the structure's original appearance intact. They reinforced the internal frame, replaced the sheet metal skin, and repainted the exterior. The work was complicated because the original construction methods and materials had to be understood and matched as closely as possible.

A second major restoration began in 2000 and was completed in 2002. This work focused on the howdah, the stairs, and the structural supports. The restoration team used modern engineering techniques to may support Lucy could withstand future storms while maintaining her historical character. The cost of this restoration was over $1 million, funded by donations, grants, and admission fees.

What Lucy looked like when she was a boarding house

In 1881, Lucy's howdah contained six rooms where guests could sleep. The rooms were small and straightforward furnished, with beds, a washstand, and a chamber pot. Guests climbed the stairs to reach their rooms and had to use a shared bathroom. The novelty of sleeping inside a giant elephant was the main attraction — the rooms themselves were not luxurious.

The ground floor contained a restaurant and bar where guests and day visitors could eat and drink. The restaurant served meals to tourists who came to see Lucy but did not stay overnight. The combination of lodging and dining made Lucy a complete destination, not just a curiosity to view from outside.

Lucy operated as a boarding house for several decades, but the practice declined as hotels and motels became more common and more comfortable. By the early 1900s, Lucy was no longer used for overnight stays. The rooms were eventually removed or sealed off, and the structure became a museum where visitors could tour the interior but not stay.

Lucy's survival through storms and natural disasters

Lucy has endured multiple hurricanes and nor'easters since 1881. The most serious threat came in 1962, when Hurricane Donna struck New Jersey. The storm surge and high winds damaged Lucy's exterior and threatened to topple her. The structure survived, but the damage was extensive enough to require repairs.

The 1976 restoration was partly a response to the cumulative damage from decades of storms. The reinforced frame and new exterior materials made Lucy more resistant to future weather events. Even so, every major storm brings new damage that requires attention. The Lucy the Elephant Corporation maintains the structure year-round and makes repairs as needed.

Lucy's survival is partly due to her location. Although she sits near the ocean, she is not directly on the beach, which reduces exposure to storm surge. Her solid wooden construction, while requiring constant maintenance, has proven more durable than lighter materials would have been. The community's commitment to preservation has also been crucial — without ongoing care and funding, Lucy would have been lost long ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Lucy the Elephant?

Yes, Lucy is open to the public as a museum. You can climb the interior stairs and view the howdah and different levels of the structure. Tours are self-guided during regular hours, and group tours are available by reservation. The tour takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

Where exactly is Lucy located?

Lucy stands at 9200 Atlantic Avenue in Margate City, New Jersey, which is in Atlantic County about 9 miles south of Atlantic City. She is visible from the street and near the Margate boardwalk. Parking is available nearby, and the site is accessible by car or public transportation.

How much does it cost to visit Lucy?

Admission fees vary by season and age. Children, seniors, and groups often have reduced rates. Current prices are posted on the Lucy the Elephant website and at the entrance. The money from admission fees supports the ongoing maintenance and restoration of the structure.

Is Lucy the Elephant the only giant animal roadside attraction?

No, but Lucy is one of the oldest and most famous. Other giant animal attractions exist across the United States, including the World's Largest Ball of Twine and various dinosaur parks. Lucy is notable because she has survived since 1881 and has been continuously maintained and restored.

Can you stay overnight inside Lucy?

No, Lucy is no longer a boarding house. She is a museum open during the day for tours. The rooms that once existed inside the howdah have been removed or sealed off. If you want to stay in Margate, there are hotels and bed-and-breakfasts throughout the town.