Lucy the Elephant, one of the East Coast's most iconic attractions, is welcoming guests for overnight stays for the first time in more than 100 years.
Reaching a height of six stories, Lucy has been a towering presence on the Jersey Shore since 1881. Older than the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower, Lucy is a "tribute to the golden age of roadside Americana," according to Airbnb, who are hosting the national landmark on their site. Starting on St Patrick's Day, Lucy will welcome guests for overnight stays for three nights in March.
On her Airbnb listing, Lucy describes herself as an "old soul with a young heart". In her lifetime, she has served as a tavern, a summer residence for a British doctor and his family and she has even hosted a US President. "Today, I’m one of the Shore’s most recognizable faces," she says, attracting about 132,000 visitors per year.
This is the first time since 1902 that Lucy is accepting guests and in honour of her the special occasion, Airbnb say she will "be outfitted once again in grand Victorian style, transporting guests back to the 1800s". During their stay, guests will enjoy top-notch meals and some of the best ocean views on the Jersey Shore.
Accommodation will be taken care of by Richard Helfant; Lucy's caretaker. He's been fighting for her survival since the 1950s - saving her from demolition - and is now the executive director of the Save Lucy Committee, which is responsible for restoring and preserving Lucy for future generations.
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Lucy the Elephant is located in Margate, about five miles east of Atlantic City. Accommodation can be booked on 17, 18 and 19 March, 2020. Reservations will open on 5 March. Booking fees will be donated to Save Lucy Committee. For more information, see here.