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If you’ve ever been to Asbury Park, New Jersey, chances are you’ve noticed a tall structure at the end of the boardwalk. That’s the Asbury Park Casino, a concrete and limestone building that sits at 700 Ocean Avenue. Designed by Beaux-Arts architects Whitney Warren and Charles Wetmore, (the designers of Grand Central Station), this casino was once a hotspot at the Jersey Shore. But what happened to all of its glitz and glam? Read on to find out.
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You can learn more about the Asbury Park Casino and other local landmarks when you download our free vacation guide. It’s full of information on great places to visit during your stay at The Inns of Ocean Grove!
History of the Asbury Park Casino
Built in 1929, the casino and its accompanying arcade made Asbury Park one of NJ’s premier resort towns. The complex boasted a wide range of amusements, from rides and concessions to year-round accommodations. It was also a popular place for entertainment like movies, theater, and concerts. With visitors flocking from all over the tri-state area, the city quickly became a beloved cultural destination.
Built in 1929, the Casino building on Asbury Park's Boardwalk had been vacant for years. “Since 2007-2008 when Madison Marquette initiated the redevelopment of the Asbury Park Boardwalk, Madison Marquette has replaced the roofs of the Paramount Theatre, Casino and Carousel building-and in the years that have followed, conducted extensive structural exploratory work and stabilization of the Casino (both pre and post Sandy), Convention Hall, Paramount Theatre and pavilions.
When the 1960s rolled around, suburbs, TV, highways, and shopping malls pulled tourists away from Asbury Park. Like many urban areas, the city saw hard times from the 1970s to the turn of the century. Many buildings were abandoned and left to decay; some were even demolished, including part of the casino. Today, the casino’s original polished terrazzo and plasterwork are still visible – a hauntingly beautiful reminder of the town’s glory days.
Asbury Park Today
- The Casino Building in Asbury Park, NJ. Original fine art photograph by Jen Lapinski. Title - Boardwalk Dreams Print Sizes - 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 20x24 Orientation - horizontal ∙ Fine Art Photograph. Printed on professional photo paper with a luster or metallic finish. ∙ Photo is unframed.
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Thanks to Asbury Park’s residents and newcomers, the Asbury Park Boardwalk is once again the place to be. This rejuvenated mile-long promenade boasts a warm, nostalgic feel and offers plenty of family-friendly attractions. You can spend the day shopping and dining, then stop by the Asbury Park Casino and snap some photos. Just a few minutes at this iconic landmark will leave you with a lifetime of wonderful memories.
Asbury Park also attracts visitors to its world-famous nightclubs. We recommend catching a concert at The Stone Pony, a legendary music venue that was established in 1974. Or check out the Convention Hall and the adjacent Paramount Theatre. Each has hosted performances by Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, and the Rolling Stones, just to name a few.
Book Your Stay at The Inns of Ocean Grove
While Asbury Park, New Jersey continues to revitalize itself year after year, the town remains a wonderful place to unwind with family and friends. After a fun day, take a short drive back to The Ocean Plaza Hotel or The Ocean View Inn and reminisce. Our properties are just minutes away and are a great alternative to Asbury Park beach hotels. Enjoy beautifully appointed rooms, gracious service, and warm hospitality throughout your stay. We even offer a delicious breakfast each morning! To book your room this summer, check our availability or give us a call at (732) 774-6552. We look forward to having you!
Find out how you can save on your trip with one of our fabulous vacation specials.
“The Glad to See You” Tower. By Paul Goldfinger © The Casino is in the center of the photo.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
We’ve all walked by that peculiar-looking building on the left side of our photo above, adjacent to the Casino in Asbury Park, at the Ocean Grove North End.
Many of us wondered what that is/was. I’ve never heard a clear explanation until now upon reading a wonderful account, with photos, by Marlo Montanaro, a Jersey Shore photographer, who posted a piece on his blog called “The Monolith of Asbury Park.”
Marlo was able to get information and access inside of that mysterious place. He succinctly refers to it as “the steam power plant,” a name known to many old-timers in this part of the Jersey Shore.
The central tower, seen from the roof. By Marlo Montanaro ©
The steam plant was built in 1930 in order to provide heat to boardwalk attractions so that Asbury Park could compete year-round for recreational business. It was designed by Warren and Wetmore from New York City who were responsible for other Beaux Arts structures nearby, including the Casino, Convention Hall, Paramount Theatre, and the Berkeley Carteret Hotel to the north.
Inside were three huge boilers that used oil to create steam for heat. The heat was pumped through pipes to the various buildings. Water may have been obtained from Wesley Lake or even dumped into the Lake. There is no information as to the success of the project, but evidently it wasn’t used once WWII occurred.
Dramatic photograph inside the steam power plant, by Marlo Montanaro. © You can see more of these wonderful images by clicking on his link below. Marlo’s photos posted here with his permission.
Since then it has stood as a monument of sorts to a utility that lost its purpose over 70 years ago. In the late c. 1960’s we have a photo of Bruce Springsteen, another Asbury icon, standing north of the tower.
“Young Bruce” at the north end of the Asbury boards. Photo by Emil Salvini.
In 2003, a developer wanted to move the Stone Pony into that steam building, but, of course, that did not occur thanks to a lot of noise by the Cousin Brucie rock ‘n roll crowd.
The most original recent contribution to the known history of the steam power plant are the evocative interior photographs that Marlo Montanaro posted last April with his detailed review of the subject.
Here is what he said about the enigmas that remain, “There are still mysteries here- what it really looked like when she was new… the men that worked here, what 1930 was really like… I can picture dark smoke and steam spewing from the top, the noises of banging steam pipes, and loud oil-fueled fires heating huge tanks of water, the smell of burning oil- steam power is a living, breathing thing. I can see some of the workmen taking a break, looking out over Wesley Lake as families took a ride on the paddle boats, while they toiled in a hot, nasty environment wearing soot-covered overalls. I wish I could have seen her in all her glory. But I can only imagine.”
Below are two links to Marlo’s blogposts dated April, 2014. Thanks to Joel of OG for tipping us off to the Marlo post.
Old Casino Building Asbury Park Nj Boardwalk
JANE LANIER from the album Fosse. It is from the 1954 Broadway musical “The Pajama Game.”
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https://blogfinger.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/07-steam-heat.mp3