Demolition begins at new jersey's lucy the elephant historic tourist site

Demolition begins at New Jersey’s Lucy the Elephant Historic Tourist Site

by
June 26, 2025
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MARGATE, N.J. — A major accessibility upgrade is underway at Lucy the Elephant, the iconic six-story roadside attraction in Margate. On Wednesday, crews began demolishing the 50-year-old gift shop to make way for a new state-of-the-art interpretive center designed to make the site fully ADA accessible for the first time.

“For more than 20 years, we’ve dreamed of making Lucy fully ADA accessible—so everyone can experience her magic, barrier-free,” the Lucy team announced.

The new center, scheduled for completion by mid-2026, will include accessible pathways and exhibit space, allowing visitors of all physical abilities to enjoy the historic structure.

Demolition begins at new jersey's lucy the elephant historic tourist site
Photo: demolition begins at new jersey's lucy the elephant historic tourist site

Temporary shop open during construction

While construction is ongoing, Lucy the Elephant will remain open for tours. A temporary gift shop is operating at the corner of Washington and Atlantic Avenues, directly across the street from the site.

This long-awaited upgrade marks a major step in preserving Lucy’s legacy while opening her doors to all visitors.

Lucy the Elephant is moving closer to full accessibility as demolition begins on her longtime gift shop to make way for a modern visitor center.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

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