
The Wildwood motel has a distinct architecture that arose in the 1950s and 1960s with a retro style of looping neon signs and plastic palm trees.

Through a rare combination of economics, geography and chance, the island of Wildwood in New Jersey contains a national treasure: the highest concentration of mid-century modern hospitality architecture in the US.

Industrial design professor, Mark Havens, spent 10 years capturing the tourist destination before most of them disappeared.

The images were collected for his book Out of Season: The Vanishing Architecture of the Wildwoods, which was published this month by Booth-Clibborn Editions.

Like many of Wildwood's motels, the pool area of the Bel Air is adorned with faux palm trees. The building is shaped like the number 7. It is pictured in 2007. Tourists still flock to this retro motel located in the Wildwood Crest

Built in 1962, the Blue Marlin Motel is pictured in 2005 and it's now being advertised as the Blue Marlin Resort located in Wildwood Crest

Havens shot this photo of the Caribbean in 2007. It shows the motel's distinctive curved ramp leading to the second level and its bright neon sign. The landmark Caribbean was built in 1958 and is one of only two Wildwood Motels on the National Register

Mark Havens captured this vibrant photo of the Hialeah in 2006. The motel was demolished several months later

Havens captured the Jolly Roger in 2007. The motel has a signature pirate statue atop of it and the building was built in 1960. It hosts numerous weekend events throughout the year

The motels were also nicknamed, 'Doo-Wop' motels, after the funky-fresh genre of music, Doo-Wop, which was developed in African-American communities in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, among others.

Most of the motels generally include U-shaped or L-shaped designs of two or three stories, asymmetric elements, swimming pools, adjacent parking or second story sun decks over parking spaces, angular walls or windows, flat overhanging roofs, bright color and a contemporary or fantasy theme.

The Chateau Bleu Resort Motel was built in 1962 with a heart-shaped pool. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with the Caribbean Motel.

The book, Out of Season, is accompanied by critical essays from Joseph Giovannini and Jamer Hunt.

Havens’ photographs capture the kitsch and nostalgic aesthetic of Wildwood’s unique, modernist architecture.

The motels were built in anticipation of the arrival of the Garden State Parkway, a four-lane toll road that would ultimately run the length of New Jersey.

The architecture of this popular Jersey Shore resort was heavily influenced by the modernist styles that populated Florida at the time.

Modeled on American middle-class ideals and architectural make-believe, the constructs were imbued with the culture of the moment: space travel, cars, nascent rock‘n roll, exotic Polynesian locale and neon signs spelling out names like Satellite, Astronaut, Bel Air, Kona Kai, and Waikiki.

However, a substantial number of the motels have been demolished and many that remain face an uncertain future.

Two chairs and an ashtray are examples of the standard features outside each room at many of Wildwood’s motels. Here, they are photographed in 2004 at the Crystal Sands. The motel is located in the Beach Block of Wildwood and tourists can still enjoy a stay

The unique bowed railings and flag-crete pillars of the Trylon Motel in North Wildwood are pictured in 2008. The motel boasts about 'family accommodations, free beaches and endless entertainment on the boardwalk and water parks' in North Wildwood

The green wall of the Lurae Motel was photographed in 2006. The Lurae has since been demolished

Modelled on American middle-class ideals and architectural make-believe, the constructs were imbued with the culture of the moment: space travel, cars, nascent rock‘n roll and exotic Polynesian locale. Pictured is the Palm Crest Motel which has been demolished

The Flame Inn was well known for it's candle with a flame that was constructed outside the building. It was demolished and replaced with condos as were several other motels in the Wildwood area