Forget the palatial splendor of Congress Hall. This month, Madison Resort Wildwood Crest prepares to take the title of Cape May County’s largest beach resort. This complex, set to open on May 16, features 200 guest rooms, three restaurants, two pools, two fitness centers, rooftop event spaces and more that will take center stage this summer in the Wildwoods.
When Madison Resorts bought out the then-derelict Oceanview Motel in August 2022, it invested $12 million into the project. That figure would balloon when the company purchased The Royal Hawaiian in December 2023.
Though The Royal Hawaiian property required much less renovation, Madison Resorts’ plans had grown so far in scope that the project budget reach as high as $52 million before completion. With both now-refurbished hotels across the street from each other, and the grand opening planned for mid-May, the former rivals combine into one megalithic resort.
Now, Oceanview Hotel has been renamed The Ocean Tower, while The Royal Hawaiian has been redubbed the Royal Tower. Together, they aim to create a resort experience unlike anywhere else in Cape May County.
Retro Style
When the Oceanview Motel first opened in 1964, its doo-wop style was the hottest trend of the time. Through the years, its owners aimed to keep that theme alive, and Madison Resorts will continue to do so in the years ahead.
“Drawing from my background in fashion design, I found inspiration in the timeless elegance and harmony of doo-wop culture for our resort in Wildwood Crest,” says Madison Resort’s brand and marketing director Lindsay Taylor. “The vibrant colors and vintage charm of doo-wop have shaped every aspect of our design, creating a unique and immersive experience for our guests. Doo-wop isn’t just an era or a piece of decor; it’s a feeling you get when you walk into a room and ‘Keep on Dancing’ by The Gentrys is playing on a record player—kind of like when you walk in the front doors of our lobby.”
Madison Resorts founder Dan Alicea has been equally committed to preserving the retro style. It’s one of the many things that make the Wildwoods unique among its Jersey Shore sister towns. It’s also something Alicea felt his company needed to keep for the community as a relative newcomer in the region.
Remade and Remodeled
While the focus on the old-school style at The Ocean Tower remains, the venue has introduced a number of modern elements, too. All of the rooms and interiors have been refurbished and restored down to the studs. Each has been meticulously designed to feature new furniture, mattresses and decor, even as the signature doo-wop spirit shines bright in the form of retro appliances and coloring.
Likewise, the rooms at The Royal Tower all received the same treatment, though renovations never saw the interior structure as thoroughly remade. This side of the resort, however, is designed to be more pet- and family-friendly.
With the thick of beach season nearly upon us, guests heading down Ocean Avenue to the shore will be awed by the final project dominating the landscape. The Royal Tower is now adorned with a “Madison” logo cascading down the side of the building silhouetted by the signature sky-blue color scheme. Meanwhile, at the other side of the resort, The Ocean Tower retains its iconic blast-off roof with a lobby completely rebuilt from the ground up. The brand-new pool, hot tub and cabanas create an elegant and stylish reprieve from the sometimes hectic atmosphere of the beach.
For those guests looking to visit as soon as possible, the first tower of rooms is available as soon as the weekend of May 10, with all options available starting at the grand opening on May 16.
Madison Resort Wildwood Crest
7201 Ocean Ave., Wildwood Crest, NJ
Website
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