Stunning images of the Doo-wop era motels making a resurgence in New Jersey beach town Wildwood as tourists opt for simple vacations from a by-gone age
- As people are increasingly seeking a reminder of a simpler past - Doo Wop motels have come back into style
- The motels are known for their vibrant neon signs, spiraling ramps, plastic palm trees and L-shaped designs
- The island of Wildwood in New Jersey contains highest concentration of hospitality architecture in the US
- Several cities make up the five-mile island that is home to motels built in the 1950s and 1960s
- Professor Mark Havens chronicles 10 years of photography of the famous motels in new book - Out of Season: The Vanishing Architecture of the Wildwoods
Retro motels that arose in the 1950s and 1960s are seeing a resurgence in American tourists longing for a simpler vacation.
Doo Wop motels born in the era have come back into style in the past few years.
Through a rare combination of economics, geography and chance, the island of Wildwood in New Jersey contains a national treasure: the highest combination of mid-century modern hospitality architecture.
These hotels embrace a retro style of looping neon signs, plastic palm trees, cheap mini-golf courses and simple living spaces.
Industrial design professor, Mark Havens, spent 10 years capturing the tourist destination before most of them disappeared for his book Out of Season: The Vanishing Architecture of the Wildwoods, which was published by Booth-Clibborn Editions.
And though many of the hotels have since been demolished, the kitschy architecture and unadorned accommodations remind vacationers of a more simple by-gone era.

Distinct retro hotels that arose in the 1950s and 1960s are seeing a resurgence in American tourists longing for a simpler time. Industrial design professor Mark Havens spent 10 years capturing these destinations for his book. Pictured is the Breezy Corner Motel in Wildwood, New Jersey, which has since been demolished

These hotels embrace a retro style of looping neon signs, plastic palm trees, cheap mini-golf courses and simple living spaces. Pictured is a simple mini-golf course at the Compass Motel, which has been covered up with plastic bags and duct tape for the winter season

Front doors with different colors make an otherwise completely simple Rus-Mar Motel appear lively and colorful. Doo Wop motels born in the era have come back into style in the past few years as people search for accommodations that remind them of a simpler time

Like many of Wildwood's motels, the pool area of the Bel Air is adorned with faux palm trees. The building is shaped like the number 7. It is pictured in 2007. Tourists still flock to this retro motel located in the Wildwood Crest

Havens captured the Jolly Roger in 2007. The motel has a signature pirate statue atop of it and the building was built in 1960. It hosts numerous weekend events throughout the year
The motels were also nicknamed, 'Doo-Wop' motels, after the funky-fresh genre of music, Doo-Wop, which was developed in African-American communities in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, among others.
Most of the motels generally include U-shaped or L-shaped designs of two or three stories, asymmetric elements, swimming pools, adjacent parking or second story sun decks over parking spaces, angular walls or windows, flat overhanging roofs, bright color and a contemporary or fantasy theme.
The Chateau Bleu Resort Motel was built in 1962 with a heart-shaped pool. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with the Caribbean Motel.
The book, Out of Season, is accompanied by critical essays from Joseph Giovannini and Jamer Hunt.
Havens' photographs capture the kitsch and nostalgic aesthetic of Wildwood's unique, modernist architecture.
The motels were built in anticipation of the arrival of the Garden State Parkway, a four-lane toll road that would ultimately run the length of New Jersey.
The architecture of this popular Jersey Shore resort was heavily influenced by the modernist styles that populated Florida at the time.
Modeled on American middle-class ideals and architectural make-believe, the constructs were imbued with the culture of the moment: space travel, cars, nascent rock'n roll, exotic Polynesian locale and neon signs spelling out names like Satellite, Astronaut, Bel Air, Kona Kai, and Waikiki.
A substantial number of the motels have been demolished and many that remain face an uncertain future. However, those that don't have seen a resent surge in visitors who are looking to feed into their nostalgia.

Havens shot this photo of the Caribbean in 2007. It shows the motel's distinctive curved ramp leading to the second level and its bright neon sign. The landmark Caribbean was built in 1958 and is one of only two Wildwood Motels on the National Register

Mark Havens captured this vibrant photo of the Sans Souci. The motel was demolished several months later

The Chateu Bleu's kitschy architecture is pictured - many of these hotels were built in anticipation of the arrival of the Garden State Parkway, a four-lane toll road that would ultimately run the length of New Jersey

A photo of a table with a palm umbrella overlooking the ocean at the Waikki Motel captures the loneliness of the beach town during the off season

Basic white plastic chairs sat at the front door of each motel room show the standard features at many of Wildwood's motels. Here, they are photographed in 2004 at the Sattelite Motel, which has since been demolished

The basic railings and concrete pillars of the Ocean View Motel are pictured. The motel boasts about 'family accommodations, free beaches and endless entertainment

The architecture of this popular Jersey Shore resort was heavily influenced by the modernist styles that populated Florida at the time. Pictured is the Swan which has been demolished

While many of the hotels have since been demolished, the kitschy architecture and unadorned accommodations remind vacationers of a more simple by-gone era. Pictured is the oceanfront Tropicana Motel
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