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Neptune, New Jersey

Everything Neptune is known for

RoadyGoat plays music like this when you drive through Neptune. It's free on iPhone, and full songs play through Apple Music.

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History of Neptune

Lucy the Elephant RoadyGoat

1881

At 9200 Atlantic Avenue in Margate City, New Jersey, a six-story elephant has stood watch over the beach since 1881, when real-estate man James V. Lafferty had her built of wood and tin to lure buyers to his shore lots. She rises 65 feet, weighs about 90 tons, and you really can climb the spiral staircase in one leg up into the howdah on her back. Lafferty was so proud of the gimmick that the U.S. Patent Office granted him an 1882 patent on animal-shaped buildings (which is why some sources date her to 1882). Named Lucy in 1902, she became a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and is widely recognized as the oldest surviving roadside tourist attraction in America.

12.8 mi away

Lucy the Elephant, Margate City

1881

Lucy the Elephant, a six-story elephant-shaped building in Margate City, was built in 1881 and is the oldest surviving roadside attraction in America.

12.8 mi away

Atlantic City Boardwalk

1870

Built in 1870, the Atlantic City Boardwalk was the first boardwalk in the United States and became the model for American seaside tourism.

17.0 mi away

Things to Do in Neptune

Everything Near Neptune

16 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

  • Somers Mansion · 8.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Pull over here for a second; this spot is special. Somers Mansion, built way back in 1725, is one of the oldest surviving houses in New Jersey, a window into a completely different time. The house was built by Richard…

  • Lucy the Elephant · 12.8 mi

    At 9200 Atlantic Avenue in Margate City, New Jersey, a six-story elephant has stood watch over the beach since 1881, when real-estate man James V. Lafferty had her built of wood and tin to lure buyers to his shore lots.…

  • Lucy the Elephant · 12.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever seen a six-story elephant? Well, you're near one! This is Lucy the Elephant, built way back to lure people to Margate City. James Lafferty built Lucy in 1882. He patented the idea of novelty architecture to attract…

  • Lucy the Elephant, Margate City · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    Lucy the Elephant, a six-story elephant-shaped building in Margate City, was built in 1881 and is the oldest surviving roadside attraction in America.

  • Lucy the Elephant · 12.9 mi · Things to Do

    A 65-foot wooden elephant building from 1881. One of America's oldest roadside attractions.

  • Marvin Gardens (Monopoly) · 13.4 mi · Things to Do

    The real Marvin Gardens from the Monopoly board. It's actually in Margate NJ not Atlantic City.

  • Marven Gardens · 14.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever landed on Marven Gardens in Monopoly and wondered where it actually *is*? Well, you're practically there! This unassuming neighborhood has a name that's a mashup of the two towns it straddles. Marven Gardens sits…

  • World War I Memorial (Atlantic City, New Jersey) · 16.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Pull over a moment to pay your respects. This is the World War I Memorial, built to honor the brave men and women from Atlantic City who served in the Great War. Construction on the memorial began shortly after the war…

  • Marine National Bank · 16.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This unassuming building holds a silent piece of Wildwood's past, a time when local banks were cornerstones of the community. The Marine National Bank first opened its doors here in 1908. Then, in 1927, the bank…

  • Atlantic City Boardwalk · 17.0 mi · Historical Marker

    Built in 1870, the Atlantic City Boardwalk was the first boardwalk in the United States and became the model for American seaside tourism.

  • Boardwalk Hall · 17.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Get ready to be wowed: Boardwalk Hall isn't just a building; it's a monument to Atlantic City's golden age. Built between 1926 and 1929, this hall was *the* place to be, hosting everything from conventions to the Miss…

  • Shelburne Hotel (Atlantic City, New Jersey) · 17.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Once a grand resort on the Atlantic City boardwalk, the Shelburne Hotel witnessed the rise and fall of an iconic era. Built in 1869, the Shelburne started as a modest wood-frame cottage. It grew over time, eventually…

Show all 16 nearby places
  • Caribbean Motel · 17.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Step back in time at this perfectly preserved example of Doo-Wop architecture in the Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District. The Caribbean Motel is a prime example of the iconic architectural style that defines the…

  • Traymore Hotel · 17.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine standing here a century ago, surrounded by the opulent grandeur of the Traymore Hotel, Atlantic City's crown jewel. The Traymore started modestly as a boarding house in 1879. Over the decades, it grew into a…

  • Madison Hotel (Atlantic City) · 17.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine living the high life in Atlantic City during its golden age. That's what the Madison Hotel was built for. Designed by a Philadelphia firm, the Madison Hotel rose fourteen stories above the boardwalk in 1929. It…

  • Absecon Lighthouse · 18.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Get ready to crane your neck because you're about to see New Jersey's tallest lighthouse, the Absecon Lighthouse! Construction started back in 1854, and just three years later, on January 15th, 1857, its light first…

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