Demolition of the Ivanhoe Motel – Final Tour
A piece of North Wildwood history is now disappearing as the Ivanhoe Motel is actively being demolished.
Last year, Beachside Resort, LLC submitted an application to North Wildwood’s planning and zoning board to redevelop the property at 430 East 21st Avenue.
Demolition of the Ivanhoe Motel – Finale Tour
For many, this location is instantly recognizable as the site of the Ivanhoe Motel, a staple of the island’s lodging scene for over half a century.
The Ivanhoe Motel, built in 1969, was inspired by the 1819 novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, bringing a distinctive historical theme to North Wildwood’s beachfront.
In December 2022, the property changed hands, selling for approximately $4 million.
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The original motel debuted with just 16 units, but over time, the family who owned it expanded the property to 32 units, even acquiring a neighboring house to offer additional rental options.
A promotional brochure from 1972 described the Ivanhoe as featuring “Deluxe two- and four-room apartments with fully equipped kitchens & motel rooms accommodating 2-6 persons. Located in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere, yet near to everything.”
The Ivanhoe shared a close connection with its neighboring property, the Panoramic Motel. Both motels were managed as sister properties, jointly catering to guests and maintaining a similar aesthetic. This partnership continued until 2022, when the family decided to sell.
Unlike many recent redevelopments that have led to condominiums, the new plans call for single-family homes.
According to the application, the property is being subdivided into five individual lots, paving the way for a new residential development.
Demolition of the property started this past Friday as crews started demolishing the motel wing that sits just West of the property. First crews removed the entire interior of the rooms including the glass, floors, wiring and fixtures before then demolishing the entire wing early on Wednesday.
From the looks of it, the entire motel will be history by the end of this week.
The Wildwood Video Archive wanted to film at the motel one last time prior to it being erased from our history books. You can watch that video at the bottom of this article.
At this time, we have not received a copy of what the new single family homes will look like. As soon as we get them we will be sure to put them online for you to see.
With the final chapter of the Ivanhoe Motel coming to a close, longtime visitors and locals alike are saying goodbye to a cherished landmark that has been a part of North Wildwood’s history for over 50 years.
Are you sad to see the Ivanhoe Motel go?