Lucy the Elephant Tops USA Roadside Attraction List Again

Step back, ball of twine and Wheat Jesus, Lucy the Elephant, the pride of Margate, NJ, has just won the title of 'Best Roadside Attraction' for the second consecutive year.

Voters picked Lucy as the top roadside attraction in the country, according to the 2025 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.

The six-story giant wooden elephant on Atlantic Avenue in Margate has been winning the hearts of tourists for generations. And now it has won the national votes, saying Americans love Lucy, too.

Give Credit Where Credit is Due

It is a tribute to Lucy's Executive Director, Rich Helfent, and all the people on the Save Lucy Committee who worked so hard to restore and preserve Lucy the Elephant to get her listed on the National Parks registry of historic landmarks and to keep her as a major tourist attraction.

2025 got off to a rough start for Lucy when a $500,000 federal grant for its restoration project was rescinded by DOGE.

The grant was a large part of a restoration project that would have funded repairs to Lucy's interior and air conditioning system.

I am sure this winning vote is even sweeter a second time around for Lucy lovers everywhere.

A Little History About Lucy the Elephant

Lucy the Elephant was built by real estate developer James Lafferty in 1881 as a gimmick to attract potential buyers to his land holdings along the coast of South Atlantic City, now Margate.

Royalty came from around the world to stay at the neighboring Elephant Hotel and climb the stairs to Lucy’s howdah.

Lucy has survived hurricanes, ocean floods, and even a fire accidentally started by some inebriated party-goers when she served as a tavern.

In 1970, the Save Lucy Committee was formed to protect and repair Lucy. Thirty years and over $1.5 million later, Lucy was completely restored to her original splendor.

Recently, Lucy the Elephant had another expensive makeover, having her metal skin replaced. It cost $2.4 million to restore the 65-foot elephant.

Lucy Tops The List Of Best Toadside Attractions

1. Lucy the Elephant (Margate)

2. Wheat Jesus (Kansas)

3. Dalmatian Fire Hydrant (Texas)

4. The Easel Project (Kansas)

5. Wall Drug Store Inc. (South Dakota)

6. Dinosaur Gardens (Michigan)

7. Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum (Louisiana)

8. Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (Minnesota)

9. Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum (Ohio)

10. World's Largest Ball of Twine (Kansas)