Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New Jersey Asbury Park Asbury Park Casino and Carousel House

Asbury Park Casino and Carousel House

Vacant Beaux-Arts buildings that serve as reminders of a beach town’s glory days.

Asbury Park, New Jersey

Added By
raineoffire
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Carousel House   TinaK / Atlas Obscura User
Carousel House   TinaK / Atlas Obscura User
  Michael Busch / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
The whole building   Viking gal / Atlas Obscura User
Carousel House   TinaK / Atlas Obscura User
Carousel House   TinaK / Atlas Obscura User
Carousel House   TinaK / Atlas Obscura User
  DCbmyers / Atlas Obscura User
  DCbmyers / Atlas Obscura User
Carousel And Casino House   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Carousel House Local Artists’ Murals   TinaK / Atlas Obscura User
what’s left of the Fun House, under consturction   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
inside Carousel Building   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
inside Carousel Building   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
inside Carousel Building   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
outside on entertainment complex   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
outside on entertainment complex   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
outside on entertainment complex   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
inside the Casino building, sides are boarded up due to construction   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
construction workers reviewing what’s about to be done   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
inside the Casino building   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
inside the Casino building, center entrance   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
inside the Casino building   Adventure Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
Casino detail   Avoiding Regret
Casino interior   Avoiding Regret
  Avoiding Regret
Carousel detail   Avoiding Regret
  Avoiding Regret
Casino detail   Avoiding Regret
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

At the turn of the twentieth century, Asbury Park competed only with Atlantic City for the title of New Jersey’s premier resort town.

The north side of the boardwalk belonged to the Convention Center. On the south side, bordering the religious community of Ocean Grove, arose several structures designed by New York Beaux-Arts architects Whitney Warren & Charles Wetmore (designers of Grand Central Station) that would define the town’s character: a huge casino and its accompanying arcade boasted an assortment of amusements in its entertainment complex, from rides to concessions to year-round accommodations. Carousel #87 from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company was installed in the ornate Carousel House in 1932 and would run for more than half a century.

But over time Asbury Park declined, and by the 1980s the entertainment district had more or less disintegrated. The buildings were abandoned and left to decay. The famed carousel was bought in 1990 and moved to Family Kingdom Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where it now operates with fiberglass replicas of the original wooden horses.

Though stripped of their original glory, the shore town’s structures are still standing as the town mounts a comeback. Along with the carousel house, much of the concrete-and-limestone casino building and the old steam heating plant, skeletal but grand reminders of the area’s former beauty, haunt the end of the boardwalk at 700 Ocean Avenue. Some the casino’s original polished terrazzo and plasterwork are still visible.

The Carousel House, which was recently renovated with new glass, iron gates, and a new roof and cupola, now occasionally serves as a host to local theater groups and bands. To continue Asbury Park's rich skateboarding history, Red Bull and waterfront developer Madison Marquette have installed a 3½-foot mini bowl and skate park within the carousel,  named Forth Union. 

Related Tags

Carousels Architectural Oddities Ruins Amazing Automata Architecture

Community Contributors

Added By

raineoffire

Edited By

Rachel, kensears37, hrnick, Adventure Monkey...

  • Rachel
  • kensears37
  • hrnick
  • Adventure Monkey
  • nathanlouis1
  • julielab
  • TinaK
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Michael Busch
  • DCbmyers
  • Viking gal
  • blimpcaptain
  • Julius Spada
  • sjandrews8589

Published

April 26, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/10asburynj.html
  • "Asbury Park's Glory Days: The Story of an American Resort" by Helen-Chantal Pike (Rutgers University Press, 2007).
  • www.side-o-lamb.com/Casino
  • http://www.broadwayworld.com/new-jersey/article/Asbury-Parks-Historic-Carousel-Transforms-Into-Skateboarding-Hub-20160930
  • https://www.forthunion.com
  • http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/2016/09/30/check-out-asburys-newest-skate-park/91271270/
Asbury Park Casino and Carousel House
700 Ocean Ave
Asbury Park, New Jersey, 07712
United States
40.21767, -74.000784
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Silverball Museum Arcade

Asbury Park, New Jersey

miles away

Madam Marie's Psychic Booth

Asbury Park, New Jersey

miles away

The Great Auditorium

Ocean Grove, New Jersey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Asbury Park

Asbury Park

New Jersey

Places 6

Nearby Places

Silverball Museum Arcade

Asbury Park, New Jersey

miles away

Madam Marie's Psychic Booth

Asbury Park, New Jersey

miles away

The Great Auditorium

Ocean Grove, New Jersey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Asbury Park

Asbury Park

New Jersey

Places 6

Related Places

  • Lower level view 3

    Athens, Greece

    Valerian Wall at Niche Hotel

    The ruins of an ancient fortification wall sit in front of and underneath this boutique hotel.

  • P-1 Level 1.

    Athens, Greece

    Klafthmonos Square Parking Structure Fortification Walls

    Preserved portions of Athens's ancient defenses are on display in a subterranean parking garage.

  • Roofless basilica.

    Cuilapam de Guerrero, Mexico

    Ex-Monastery of Santiago Apóstol

    This exquisite example of early colonial architecture remains unfinished almost 500 years after construction began.

  • The doorway of the old church of San Isidro.

    Oviedo, Spain

    Portada de la Antigua Iglesia de San Isidoro (Arch of the Old Church of San Isidoro)

    The surviving remnants of a destroyed medieval church now stand in a public park.

  • Kenmure Hill Temple.

    Johnstone, Scotland

    Kenmure Hill Temple

    A mysterious ruin shrouded in more folklore than fact.

  • Old Gorhambury House.

    Hertfordshire, England

    Old Gorhambury House

    These ruins of Francis Bacon's once-magnificent manor are hidden in the English countryside.

  • Pasha Gardens

    Thessaloniki, Greece

    Pasha Gardens

    A little-known park with unusual, half-ruined structures and a mystical energy.

  • Al Bidya Mosque.

    Al Bidya, United Arab Emirates

    Al Bidya Mosque

    The oldest surviving mosque in the UAE has mysterious origins and unusual architecture.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.