Carroll Villa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Carroll Villa
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Villa in 2010
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 Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 34 Gurney Street Cape May, New Jersey |
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| Built | 1882 |
| Part of | Cape May Historic District (ID70000383) |
The Carroll Villa is a very old and special hotel in Cape May, New Jersey. It's part of the Cape May Historic District, which is a group of important old buildings. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting because of its history.
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A Look at the Carroll Villa
The Carroll Villa is a beautiful building built in the 1800s. It shows off the Victorian style of architecture. This style was popular during the time of Queen Victoria.
Victorian Style Features
The hotel has some cool features that make it unique. It has a strong, round tower on top called a cupola. You'll also see long windows and a front that looks the same on both sides. The colors are blue and white.
Outside, there's a yellow and white striped awning over the porch. In the back, there's a lovely garden terrace. The roof even has skylights to let in extra sunshine. The Carroll Villa has 19 rooms for guests to stay in. It was named after Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who signed the Declaration of Independence.
The Story of the Mad Batter Restaurant
The Carroll Villa was built in 1882. Many years later, in 1976, something new happened. A man named Harry Kulkowitz opened a restaurant inside the hotel. He was a veteran from World War II. He got the idea for the restaurant while playing poker at the hotel.
How the Mad Batter Got its Name
Harry named his new restaurant the Mad Batter. This name comes from the famous book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Harry bought the whole hotel in 1978.
In 1983, a newspaper called The New York Times wrote about the Mad Batter. They really liked its special dishes, like lychee duck and snow peas. Harry had brought a chef from Thailand to create these new flavors.
Hotel Upgrades and New Owners
Harry made big changes to the hotel in 1985. He added air conditioning to keep guests cool. He also fixed up the old, beautiful furniture. Plus, he made sure every guest room had its own bathroom.
In 2016, Harry's son Mark and his wife Pam Huber took over the hotel and restaurant. They are the current owners. They updated the front porch so people could enjoy it all year round. They added clear panels and more seats. This made it a great spot for live music. Harry Kulkowitz passed away on August 22, 2017.
Delicious Breakfasts at the Mad Batter
The Mad Batter restaurant is especially famous for its breakfast. Many people love to start their day there.
Popular Breakfast Dishes
- Oatmeal Pancakes: The Boston Globe newspaper said these pancakes were "simple, hearty, and a trusty companion to any breakfast drink."
- Orange and Almond French Toast: This dish is made with thick brioche bread. It's soaked in cream and orange juice, then fried. It's topped with tasty almonds.
- Belgian Waffles with Pecans: The restaurant manager, Marta Cobleigh, says this is one of her favorites.
- Crab Cake Eggs Benedict: Food critics and customers both love this special dish.
