We imagine that Lucy the Elephant was a pretty revolutionary business idea for her era. Originally called 'Elephant Bazaar,' she opened up as a hotel in 1881, providing a quirky and unusual place for guests to stay in New Jersey.
Her wooden construction left her prone to fires, and she's endured several. By 1960, after a fire in the hotel bar, the building could take no more and was condemned. A local community group has been fighting against having it torn down for years.