News: Demolition of Palace Amusements begins

Posted at 8:31 PM EDT (0031 GMT)

May. 26th, 2004 -- Demolition began today of the Palace Amusements at Asbury Park. For several months now an ongoing "Save Tillie" campaign has tried to save the old indoor amusement center, however, investigations into the structural integrity of the building found that nothing could be saved.

An 11th-hour appeal by some residents and the preservationists wanted the 1888 carousel house portion of the larger 1950s complex saved and then incorporated into the hotel and conference buildings to be put onto the site. However, Larry Fishman, chief operating officer of Asbury Partners, said "There's absolutely nothing left to be saved."

Initial work will involve razing portions of the building that do not involve sections where the painted Tillie clown face and bumper car icons are to be saved. Palace Amusements has been shut down since the late 1980s.

For more information on the demolition, see Asbury Park Press.
Save Tillie has pictures of the demolition.