County: Monmouth
Location: Asbury Park
Year Listed: 2026
Status: Endangered
New Jerseyans are known for saying they are going “down the shore,” and the phrase evokes the role the seaside holds for life in the Garden State, from maritime business to recreation and entertainment. Among the most evocative of the ups and downs of our long shore heritage has been Asbury Park, especially the historic structures at the southern end of the Asbury Park Boardwalk. Its iconic Casino building is one of New Jersey’s most recognizable and culturally significant waterfront landmarks. Constructed between 1928 and 1930 and designed by renowned architects Whitney Warren and Charles Wetmore (the architects of Grand Central Terminal), the Casino and surrounding boardwalk buildings embody the grandeur of the Beaux-Arts era and the golden age of the Jersey Shore. With its distinctive green roofline, monumental arches, and richly ornamented façade, the Casino has become synonymous with Asbury Park itself, serving as a visual and emotional centerpiece of the city for generations. The structure has long occupied a central place in the cultural identity of the community, appearing in art, photography, film, and music, including references in the work of Bruce Springsteen and its recent appearance in the 2025 Springsteen biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere. More than an architectural landmark, the Casino stands as a symbolic link between Asbury Park’s storied past and its revitalized future, anchoring the south end of the boardwalk and continuing to inspire residents and visitors alike through projects such as Wooden Walls and ongoing community arts initiatives.
Despite its immense historic, architectural, and cultural value, the Asbury Park Casino faces an immediate and escalating threat of demolition following decades of neglect by owner and developer Madison Marquette. Previously listed on Preservation New Jersey’s 1996 “10 Most Endangered” list, the buildings have continued to deteriorate while long-promised restoration efforts have failed to materialize. In January 2026, the developer applied for a demolition permit, triggering widespread public outrage, packed city council meetings, protests, petitions with more than 10,000 signatures, and the formation of advocacy organizations including Save Our Structures Asbury Park (SOS-AP). Community members fear that continued neglect, delayed repairs, or a potential structural “accident” could be used to justify demolition of the Casino and related structures. Preservation advocates, local historians, attorneys, architects, and residents are actively urging city officials to pursue legal avenues to reclaim and preserve the properties for adaptive reuse. Supporters argue that preservation of the Casino is essential not only to protecting Asbury Park’s historic identity, but also to resisting the growing trend of generic waterfront redevelopment that erases local character in favor of luxury condominium projects disconnected from community history. It is our hope that relisting the Casino and south-end boardwalk structures on the “10 Most Endangered” helps ensure that these irreplaceable landmarks remain part of Asbury Park’s future rather than becoming another casualty of neglect and overdevelopment.
