Asbury Park

Understand

Asbury Park was founded as a Christian retreat in the 1800s by a man named James A. Bradley. It remained one of the most popular family resorts in the United States until 1970, when race riots burned down much of the downtown area.

Soon radicals, beatniks, hippies, and musicians moved in, making Asbury Park a very diverse place where the famous "Stone Pony" saw the first performances of Bruce Springsteen and became symbolic of failed urban re-development in the 1980s and early 90s.

In 1988, the city had about enough of its new cultures, and a plan to redevelop the entire waterfront went into affect. Most businesses were ordered to be closed, so the boardwalk, casino, hotels and amusements all closed for the redevelopment. High rise hotels and condos began construction, but were then abandoned before they could be finished, leaving the waterfront an odd mix of abandoned buildings and rotting construction.

The city declined in the 1990s, after almost all businesses failed. Crime rose, and Asbury Park had higher crime than any other town in Monmouth County.

However, in 1998, Shep Pettibone converted an abandoned hotel into a gay nightclub, drawing thousands of gay travelers to Asbury Park. Every Friday night the city became the only place on the East Coast that could rival Fire Island! Gay couples and artists began buying cheap homes, abandoned bars and nightclubs, closed storefronts downtown, and abandoned pavilions on the boardwalk, and restoring them to the way they once were.

Today, Asbury Park is popular amongst even mainstream tourists for its shopping, beaches and restaurants. Major summertime events hosted in Asbury Park include; the Gay Pride Parade, Garden State Film Festival, Asbury Park Jazz Festival, and the North 2 Shore Festival.

Asbury Park was once rated #5 in the top ten beaches of NJ.

Now the town is on the mend and is the next trendy area in central New Jersey, it can still be a little rough at night. You can go to the beach in Asbury in the middle of August and be one of maybe three families there. There is a boardwalk and a fishing pier. The beach gives an unwelcoming sort of appearance in Asbury Park, but the town is interesting enough itself.

Get in

By car: Parkway to exit 102. Take Rt 66 / Asbury Avenue into Asbury Park. Follow Asbury Avenue directly to the beach.

By Train: From New York City, take the North Jersey Coast Line directly to Asbury Park Train Station.

By Bus: NJ Transit offers bus service to Asbury Park from Philadelphia, Freehold, Long Branch, Red Bank, and Point Pleasant. See schedule for more information.

Travel time from New York is approximately 1 hr.

Travel time from Philadelphia is approximately 1 hr 15 min.

Get around

Getting around in Asbury Park is easy by foot or by bike. Bikes can be rented at the boardwalk at hourly or daily rates. A car is not necessary for visiting Asbury Park.

Most of the downtown parking spots cost up to $2/hour depending on the day of the week and season. During the summer months there are three lots near the beach that have an attendant - pay them the rate $5 or $10 to avoid feeding the meter. Off season these lots are usual free, so avoid the spaces.

Taxi service is also available at the train station and by calling ahead.

Circuit shuttle cars are available during the summer.

Stay safe

The main tourist areas are much safer than the outskirts.

Go next

Other popular towns in Monmouth County:

• Red Bank
• Long Branch
• Freehold