Three lucky Airbnb guests and their friends will have the chance to stay inside Lucy the Elephant, one of the first and only National Historic Landmarks now on Airbnb. A tribute to the golden age of roadside Americana, Lucy was built in 1881 and is older than the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Starting on 5 March, long-time Lucy fans — or anyone who has had the Jersey Shore on their travel bucket list — can book a stay inside Lucy’s storied walls, which will take place on 17, 18 or 19 March. Each of the three one-night overnight stays is priced at USD 138, to honour the number of years Lucy has served as a New Jersey Shore icon.
Standing a regal six stories high, Lucy calls Margate, New Jersey, home — a tight-knit community that has proven its resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and that couldn’t be prouder of its unofficial ‘mascot.’ She hosted her first stay in 1902 and over the years, she’s been a tavern and even hosted former US President Woodrow Wilson.
During the Airbnb stay — which is modelled after what Lucy’s interior would have looked like when she was briefly a summer vacation home in the early 20th century — guests will take a journey through her fascinating history.
They will also have the chance to experience the best of what the Jersey Shore has to offer, from delicious meals by top local chefs to scenic ocean views. And Lucy’s human counterpart, Richard Helfant, executive director of the Save Lucy Committee — the organisation that restored and preserved Lucy for the past 50 years — will be on hand to share his memories of the majestic structure and offer local tips.
To celebrate this historic stay, Airbnb will make a donation to the Save Lucy Committee, supporting efforts to keep Lucy the Elephant standing ‘Jersey strong’ so new generations can visit for years to come.