Largest Resort In Cape May Co. To Open In Time For Summer

WILDWOOD CREST, NJ — The weather's getting warmer and it's almost time to head down the shore. And just in time for summer, the newest and largest resort in Cape May County will be unveiled - the new Madison Resort Wildwood Crest.

Madison Resorts and founder Dan Alicea announced the grand opening of the new hotel at 7201 Ocean Ave. on May 16, with a special ceremony and ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m. featuring local dignitaries.

The project has been two years in the making for Alicea and his team. The new resort will bring together the historic doo-wop stylings of the Oceanview Motel and combine it with the iconic Royal Hawaiian property next door, for one giant resort that will feature 200 guest rooms, three restaurants, two pools, cabana and poolside seating for 100+, two hot tubs, beachfront weddings, two fitness centers, five conference rooms, two rooftop event spaces and pet-friendly accommodations.

Madison Resorts has invested more than $52 million into the project which included major top to bottom renovations at both former hotels, but still preserving the doo-wop style architecture that Oceanview Motel was famous for.

The first tower of rooms is available immediately for those that want to be the first guests to experience the resort, with all towers and rooms online by grand opening weekend starting May 16th. For room bookings, entertainment line-ups and more info, visit www.madisonresortwildwoodcrest.com and follow @madisonresortwildwoodcrest.

"We’re thrilled to bring our Madison Resorts family to the Wildwood Crest community," said Alicea. "With this opening, we’re excited to help save and preserve an important piece of Wildwood Crest history, while bringing the Jersey shore its largest new resort. We’ve invested more than $52M in this project as we’re feeling bullish about the future of Wildwood Crest, Cape May and the Jersey Shore.”

“Our expansion into Wildwood Crest is also a homecoming for my wife, Stephanie, who was born and raised in Wildwood Crest,” he added. “This community means so much to her and our family, and we couldn't be happier to make history with the property's next chapter.”

“On behalf of the Borough of Wildwood Crest, I look forward to the opening of Madison Resort Wildwood Crest,” said Wildwood Crest Mayor Don Cabrera. “We have watched the progression of a once dilapidated motel evolve into a first class resort in the hub of our community right before our eyes. Its transformation maintains some of the original architectural features with a modern day feel. I wish them much success.”

The project grew from an initial investment of $12 million, starting with the purchase of The Oceanview Motel. The Motel was a beach front building that was built in 1964, and at the time was the largest motel ever built in The Wildwoods.

Over recent years, members of the Doo-Wop Preservation League, Wildwood Historical Society and the Greater Wildwood Hotel and Motel Association lobbied to keep the property intact to retain its famous architecture. In August of 2022, Madison Resorts stepped in to save the shuttered mid-century gem from being demolished. After two years of renovations, the final finished design now incorporates the retro era into the modern culture giving the property a look and feel that blends with Wildwood’s rich doo wop era history.

After work was fully underway on the site of the Oceanview, Madison Resorts then purchased The Royal Hawaiian in December of 2023. The Royal Hawaiian was an adjacent motel across the street at the corner of Orchid Street and Ocean Avenue. This property was in operation until the prior year and didn’t need the same amount of overhaul that the Oceanview did. Madison Resorts decided to double down and add this property to their portfolio - and with its purchase aimed to create a super resort unlike anything that currently exists in Cape May County.

“The complete restoration of the iconic and historic lobby of the former Admiral East is a huge victory, not only for the historic preservation community, but for the entire island of The Wildwoods,” said Doo Wop Preservation League President John Donio. “Dan Alicea and his team have proven that doo-wop can be modernized and kept exciting for an entirely new generation of travelers.”