If you want to get a feel for what the past in Wildwood and the US used to look like head to the Doo Wop Experience Museum, right across from the Convention Center on Ocean Ave. You can’t miss it, as it looks like Mod Betty’s house would, if only I had the funds!
The building was once the Surfside restaurant, built in 1960 and closed in 2002.The Doo Wop Preservation League raised funds to disassemble and store the building until it was rebuilt here in 2007. With its dramatic circular shape and folded plate rooftop, you can see why this building was worth saving. The “neon sign garden” out front is a collection of signs saved from demolished destinations in town.
The interior of the Museum is equally as colorful with its collection of stylish 1950s artifacts, including a flock of saved signs floating above and along the walls. Retro dinettes, curved couches, atomic-age lamps, bikes, kitchenware and jukeboxes, this place a “poseurs delite” with so many vignettes to selfie yourself in.
The space is a wonderful place that can be used for parties, videos (indeed!), or events, with a donation made to the DWPL. They’re a non-profit organization “non-profit created to foster awareness and appreciation of the popular culture and imagery of the 1950s and 1960s…” and who would not want to support that?!
The museum is featured prominently in our video homage to Wildwood on Youtube:
Open seasonally, the best way to check if they’ll be open when you want to visit is to call or email using the info below.
Mod Betty Says:
A fun way to see the existing neon signs in Wildwood - take their nighttime Neon Trolley Tour! Call for details.
As a nod to modern times, they have free WiFi and take credit cards for purchases - hooray!
Don’t worry if you come across some old websites, a new one is in the works!
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