Roadside Americana · New Jersey
Lucy the Elephant
A six-story 1881 elephant you can tour
TypeGiant Roadside Colossus
StateNew Jersey
WhenLate spring–fall
How to visitGrounds free; inside tour ticketed
A 65-foot, six-story elephant-shaped building on the Jersey Shore, built in 1881 to sell real estate and now the oldest surviving roadside attraction in America — a National Historic Landmark you can climb through. Peer out of the howdah at the Atlantic.
The photo
Lucy against the shore sky.
Pair it with
- Margate
- Atlantic City
- Jersey Shore beaches
- Ocean City
Roadside attractions keep their own quirky hours and can change owners, close, or move — confirm it’s open before a long detour, respect private property and art, and leave it as iconic as you found it.
Build a trip around roadside stops like this.
Roamward turns spots like this into a real road trip on your phone — the scenic drive, the stops, and the detours, planned around the vibe you’re after. Get early access: