Wildwood Crest, New Jersey -
Doo Wop Capital of the World - Caribbean Motel

Doo Wop Capital of the World - Caribbean Motel

We stayed there last night, it is awesome! Awesome neon sign, rooftop cabana, real shuffleboard! This place screams kitsch! And isn't kitsch why we travel nationwide to see these things?! [Ron Renken, 05/28/2010]

Doo Wop Capital of the World - Caribbean Motel

There is so much more. This is truly like going back in time. Our next trip will include a couple nights at the Caribbean Motel! What a find! [Kent Wallace, 05/28/2010]

Doo Wop Capital of the World - Caribbean Motel

A classic example of "Doo Wop" architecture as chronicled in the new book "Doo Wop Motels: Architectural Treasures of The Wildwoods" by Kirk Hastings (who grew up in Wildwood Crest in the 1960s). Also known as "Googie" on the West Coast and "Modern" or "Populuxe" architecture elsewhere, "Doo Wop" architecture (named after the music style popular during the 1950s and early 1960s) consists of commercial buildings (mostly motels) that were built from 1955-1970 that contain the now-classic elements of space age architecture popular at the time, like large neon signs, slanting roofs, kidney or horseshoe-shaped swimming pools, plastic palm trees, floating ramps, leaning walls, etc.

The Caribbean Motel was built in 1958. [Kirk Hastings, 11/22/2007]

[RA: We love the look of these places, and Wildwood still has more than its share. They're being demolished at an alarming rate though, to make way for whatever New Jerseyans (or developers) like better. If you fail to visit before they're all gone, you can always buy a copy of Kirk's book.]