By Erica Hoffman
Lucy has won the title of the best roadside attraction in the United States! The nationwide competition, organized by USA Today, featured a diverse array of unique and beloved landmarks from coast to coast.
Lucy beat out roadside attractions such as Kansas’s World’s Largest Ball of Twine, Ohio’s Pencil Sharpener Museum, Minnesota’s Paul Bunyan and his pet Babe the Blue Ox, and other interesting side-of-the-road oddities are in the running for the winning title.
In the wide world of roadside attractions and National Historic Landmarks, Lucy the Elephant stands tall—quite literally, at six stories. From her unmistakable yearly color-changing toenails to her distinguished howdah, which boasts one of, if not the best, views of the Jersey Shore skyline, Lucy has been an unconventional monument bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to our humble oasis since being built in 1882. In 2023, 42,267 tours took place, surpassing the previous record set in 2018.
The iconic elephant-shaped building located steps away from the Margate shoreline off of S. Decatur Avenue has been capturing the hearts and imaginations of visitors for almost a century and a half. With her endearing charm and unique architecture, Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her lifetime, including damages from natural disasters, Lucy has endured as a testament to resilience and community spirit. Generations of visitors have marveled at her elephantine stature, climbed her spiral staircase, and soaked in panoramic views from her majestic howdah.
Lucy is a beloved symbol of Margate City and a cherished and quirky local landmark that residents and summer visitors are proud to call a part of their personal and family nostalgia. There is no doubt, it is the best roadside attraction in the country.
