Backroad Odyssey

Lucy the Elephant - America's Oldest Roadside Attraction

May 21, 2024 Noah Mulgrew Season 1 Episode 17
Lucy the Elephant - America's Oldest Roadside Attraction
Backroad Odyssey
More Info
Backroad Odyssey
Lucy the Elephant - America's Oldest Roadside Attraction
May 21, 2024 Season 1 Episode 17
Noah Mulgrew

Lucy the Elephant has loomed over the Jersey shoreline since 1881…

This 65 foot behemoth Elephant-shaped structure consists of nearly one million pieces of wood, 22 windows and is deceptively large inside. 

After entering up a spiral staircase on either back leg, you’re greeted by a vast inner chamber accentuated by two round windows overlooking the crashing Atlantic sea.

After climbing yet another staircase to visit the covered patio atop Lucy’s back, which overlooks Margate, Atlanta City and the ocean, one begins to wonder … 

Who built this and perhaps more curiously … why was Lucy built in the first place? 




Works Cited: 

https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1555&context=master201019

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/nyregion/lucy-elephant-nj-airbnb.html

https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/lucy-the-elephant/

https://lucytheelephant.org/history/chapter-1-elephant-to-starboard/

https://weirdnj.com/stories/lucy-the-elephant/

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2162

Show Notes

Lucy the Elephant has loomed over the Jersey shoreline since 1881…

This 65 foot behemoth Elephant-shaped structure consists of nearly one million pieces of wood, 22 windows and is deceptively large inside. 

After entering up a spiral staircase on either back leg, you’re greeted by a vast inner chamber accentuated by two round windows overlooking the crashing Atlantic sea.

After climbing yet another staircase to visit the covered patio atop Lucy’s back, which overlooks Margate, Atlanta City and the ocean, one begins to wonder … 

Who built this and perhaps more curiously … why was Lucy built in the first place? 




Works Cited: 

https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1555&context=master201019

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/nyregion/lucy-elephant-nj-airbnb.html

https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/lucy-the-elephant/

https://lucytheelephant.org/history/chapter-1-elephant-to-starboard/

https://weirdnj.com/stories/lucy-the-elephant/

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2162