Royal Hawaiian Motel To Transform into Madison Resorts

Royal Hawaiian Motel To Transform into Madison Resorts

In a heartfelt letter to the Royal Hawaiian Motel family, owner Lester Klayman announced the sale of the iconic establishment that has stood as a testament to hospitality in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, for over 40 years.

Located at 500 E Orchid Rd, the Royal Hawaiian Motel has been a cherished home away from home for many, a place where memories were woven into its fabric, and friendships thrived.

Klayman’s decision to part with the Royal Hawaiian Motel was not made lightly, as evidenced by the emotional tone of his letter. The motel has been more than just a business to him—it has been a labor of love, a significant part of his life.

As he bids farewell to this chapter, Klayman deeply appreciates the support, dedication, and countless joyful moments shared with the motel’s extended family.

The Royal Hawaiian Motel has been a cornerstone of the community, offering not just accommodation but a warm and welcoming space for guests to create lasting memories.

Klayman, in his post on Facebook, expressed eagerness to embrace the new opportunities that await him. His priorities include spending more time with his loved ones, signaling a well-deserved respite after dedicating four decades to the Royal Hawaiian Motel.

As he steps into this new phase of life, Klayman remains grateful for the support, loyalty, and unforgettable moments shared with the Royal Hawaiian Motel family.

The decision to sell marks the end of an era, but it also paves the way for a new beginning.

That part of Wildwood Crest has been going through a massive revitalization these past few years.

It all started when the Singapore Motel, located at 507-15 East Orchid Road, was completely stripped out and rebuilt into 32 year-round units. This was started just before the pandemic and as of today, all the units are fully occupied.

Then the Admiral Resort Motel at 7200 Ocean Ave, the next block over, went through a mini-renovation. This saw new windows installed in each unit with other internal work underway.

The Wildwood Crest lifeguard headquarters is currently going through a refurbishment, which brought the build down to the studs. This is the original building that was built for the lifeguards back in the 1950s but with many expansions over that time. The new headquarters will be a state-of-the-art faculty.

Lastly, the Oceanview resort, located at 7201 Ocean Ave, was purchased a few years back by Madison Resorts and is going through a massive renovation, which is breathing new life into the aging motel.

The motel has been sitting for quite some time, had tons of corrosion, and was almost at the point of demolition but Madison Resort owner Dan Alicea, knows the historic importance of the building and has vowed to keep the historic design while also adding modern amenities.

For the past year, the motel has been going through non-stop construction to get it ready for summer 2024.

The interior motel was stripped down, the bones fixed up and the rooms renovated. The pool area was completely reimagined, something that all guests will love.

Regrettably, the historic lobby faced an insurmountable structural issue, rendering preservation impossible. However, Alicea pledged to reconstruct it to its original specifications, with a minor adjustment to the roof to accommodate taller vehicles.

Fast forward a year and it is a marvel to see 1960s architecture being built in 2023 which looks even better now than before.

Alicea is very passionate about keeping Wildwood Crest’s identity while also providing top-notch experiences for families.

It is this passion that not only motivates him to turn The Oceanview Motel into the top motel in the Crest but also to keep tourism alive.

In recent years we have been seeing many of the motels turned into condos. Every time this happens it decreases the units for rent for families every summer, making it harder to find rooms.

Alicea is once again helping the Crest preserve its history, by purchasing the Royal Hawaiian Motel. As of this week, the Royal Hawaiian Motel is now under the Madison Resorts name.

The Royal Hawaiian Motel is set to undergo a name change, becoming part of the Madison Resort as an extension of the 7201 Ocean Ave location. The revamped establishment will have a few different features such as kitchenettes and a pet-friendly environment.

The entire building will get some renovations to bring it up to the Madison Resorts standard. The rooms will see upgrades including new tiles, future, paint lighting fixtures, and more while the outside will see a whitewash of the stone to match the exterior of the 7201 Madison Resort.

The pool will receive some enhancements but will remain the same. As many guests are aware, its pool is recognized as one of the finest on the island.

One of the best perks of Alicea purchasing the Royal Hawaiian is that as a guest, you get the best of both motels.

Regardless of which tower you stay in, you can visit each other’s amenities. That is both pools, restaurants, fitness centers… etc.

Those with existing reservations at the Royal Hawaiian don’t need to do anything as your booking does carry over.

Those looking to book will have to call the main Madison Resort number, (609) 884-4063, as online booking is not available just yet.

The Wildwood Video Archive wishes Klayman a happy retirement and the best of luck to Alicea and his team.

The WVA just toured the 7201 Madison Resort in our latest Wildwoods Construction update. You can watch that update in the video below.