Ice Skating Palace
Asbury Park, NJ

 

 

 

Asbury Park enjoyed great periods of popularity throughout the 20th century. Its boardwalk and casino attracted visitors from far and wide. Postcards dating as far back as 1905 depict elegant women with parasols strolling along the beach, arm in arm with dashing young men. The amusement park with the large mural of Tilly became legendary.

The resort town did not fare too well in the last two decades. The casino and amusement park closed, followed by most of the hotels. One large hotel was left undeveloped with its skeleton beams exposed, lending the scenery a flavor of Beirut. Understandably this town is now being referred to as "Sarajevo-by-the-Sea" -- a ghost town only partially speckled by signs of life.

Of all the ruinous buildings left behind, the casino is undoubtedly the most spectacular.

 

 

The badly damaged structure was divided into a game hall and an ice skating palace. Both sections are now locked up. Even from the outside it is obvious that the palace (below) is very deteriorated: the roof is partially caved in; many windows are broken. The section of the boardwalk leading around the building is closed, but even from the beach it is possible to hear the wind whipping through the hall.

 

 

Most of the stairs inside the palace have crumbled. Entire patches of the second level dangle like curtains towards the ground floor. Only a few structural parts are solid enough to ascend.

The view of the ice skating rink, however, is well worth the climb.

 

What was once the base of the rink now serves as a garden for weeds. Nearly all of the ceiling panels have disappeared, turning this large structure into the perfect greenhouse. The spectator tiers are so weather-damaged that it can be difficult to tell the rows of seats apart.

Behind what was presumably a stage, a curved hallway lends access to small administrative rooms whose shattered windows look out on the sea. The windowless bathrooms are the best preserved.

Now nature is staging its own performance here. We can't help but applaud.

 

 

Other Photos of Asbury Park

 

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