Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum To Close In Atlantic City

An iconic part of Atlantic City's boardwalk is soon to close. Ripley's Believe It Or Not! is shutting its doors after more than 26 years of operation. The famed museum will close on the last day of the year (Dec. 31).

"We're grateful for the support of our fans and guests, whose curiosity, open-mindedness, and enthusiasm have contributed to our success for over 26 years," Chris Connelly, the museum's manager, said in a statement per The Associated Press.

"We're thankful to have offered a unique form of entertainment and education at the Jersey Shore, and we hope we have helped create wonderful memories for those who have come to visit."

The museum was legendary on the South Jersey boardwalk as its architecture featured a crumbling building with a globe slammed into the sidewalk. The actual structure of the building as well as its foundation remained intact but encompassed the illusionary effect of the legendary museum.

According to AP, the building owner has reached the end of its agreement with Ripley's.

"They’re going to reimagine the space and come up with something new and fresh for the future," Connelly told the news organization.

The museum opened on the Boardwalk at New York Avenue on June 22, 1996, between the Bally’s and Resorts casinos, according to AP.

From now through Dec. 23, the museum is open each day except Wednesdays. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Saturdays, it is open 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. On Dec. 24, the museum will be open 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. And, for the museum’s final week (Dec. 26 — 31), hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ticket prices are $18.99 for those 13 and older; $14.99 for children between five and 12. Young children, 4 years old and under, are free. Tickets can be bought online at ripleys.com.

New Jerseyans don't have to go too far for a weekend getaway. According to 10Best, spearheaded by the USA TODAY Network, New Jersey has occupied the No. 2 and No. 3 spot for the best casino hotels in the U.S.

10Best came to this conclusion by using user votes so the casino hotels selected will have an authentic placement on the list.

Coming in at No. 3 is Ocean Casino Resort located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The site's users picked AC as a hotspot based on its unique features and offerings. The Ocean Casino Resort has "138,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,937 slot machines, a 7,500-square-foot sportsbook with panoramic video wall technology, table games, and the largest TopGolf Swing Suite in the country."

In addition to Ocean Casino Resort's premiere hotel suites and gaming, the resort also offers fine dining at  Amada, American Cut, and Dolce Mare and casual dining at The District, Zhen Bang Noodle & Sushi, or Villain & Saint. You can also relax in their luxurious spa or enjoy nightlife entertainment at Ovation Hall,  HQ² Nightclub, HQ² Beachclub, or you can choose to go out to smaller entertainment venues such as Nola's Bar & Lounge or Villain & Saint.

The No. 2 spot is another Atlantic City location at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Users selected the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino because of its classic Rock and Roll atmosphere and high-energy gaming. The site also mentions that the casino floor features 2,115 slot machines and more than 100 different table games, including an Asian gaming room with Pai Gow, mini-baccarat and Asian poker.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers dining at Council Oak, Kuro, Trattoria Il Mulino, Sandpiper, and of course the Hard Rock Cafe. They also offer guests to book a reservation at the Rock Spa & Salon as well as a host of entertainment and nightlife adventures to enjoy your stay.

Take a look at the top casino hotels in the nation below:

"Talking Stick Resort, near Scottsdale, Arizona, offers guest accommodations with contemporary design and luxurious comfort. Rooms and suites provide amenities such as private patios or balconies, scenic mountain views, a jacuzzi in the room, floor-to-ceiling windows, dining areas and wet bars. The resort also offers room service, a luxurious open-air spa, fitness and cultural centers and three luxurious resort pools."

"Staying at Foxwoods means staying at one of four hotels: the Grand Pequot Tower, Great Cedar Hotel, Two Trees Inn or the Fox Tower. This range of choices means there’s a room for every taste and budget, all offering convenient access to the resort’s shopping, dining and entertainment offerings."

"This resort in the high Sonoran Desert of Arizona offers 215 guest rooms and suites, and amenities like welcome fruit plates, a swimming pool with two poolside hot tubs, outdoor fire pits, the full-service Hiapsi Spa and an 18-hole championship golf course."

"This property on the Mississippi Gulf Coast towers 32 stories over Biloxi’s Back Bay. The hotel offers more than 1,000 rooms and suites, a resort pool with a beach-type entrance, fitness center, spa and a 70,000-square-foot casino."

"The 469 suites at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida feature signature Hard Rock amenities, like "Sleep Like a Rock" bedding, guitar rentals and the exclusive "Sound of Your Stay" audio program."

"Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel offers more perks than just being close to the action. Guests are promised luxurious suites designed to help them "relax, refresh and recharge." Serrano Spa, the full-service spa, meets every guest's wellness needs with calming facials, ritual body treatments and massages that incorporate healing crystals to elevate the experience. Facilities also include a state-of-the-art fitness center, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains at Y Lounge, and a pool with private cabanas."

"When guests of the Pechanga Resort aren’t playing one of their favorite 5,400 slots or at any of the 153 table games on the expansive 200,000-square-foot casino floor, they can relax in one of 1,100 luxury guest rooms. Or they can swim in the 4.5-acre pool complex (including two waterslides, swim-up bar and a beach-entry pool), unwind at Spa Pechanga, play a game of championship golf or grab a bite to eat at one of a dozen restaurants on property."

"Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City features 138,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,937 slot machines, a 7,500-square-foot sportsbook with panoramic video wall technology, table games and the largest TopGolf Swing Suite in the country."

"High-energy gaming meets classic rock and roll at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The casino floor features 2,115 slot machines and more than 100 different table games, including an Asian gaming room with Pai Gow, minibaccarat and Asian poker."

"The Mohegan Sun comprises two hotel towers with a combined 1,563 guestrooms and suites. Mohegan tribal stories come to life throughout the hotel’s design. Rooms are outfitted with the latest technologies, like lightning-fast Wi-Fi and intelligent thermostats. Other amenities include a fitness center, pool and Mandara Spa."