Sunflower Motel

With its strict “no unregistered guests” and “no underage drinking” policies, it’s not surprising that the Sunflower attracts mostly families with young kids. This is not a place for prom weekends or high school senior weeks; instead it’s a family-friendly spot where parents take their children on vacation. The Sunflower sees tons of repeat guests, and the motel’s owners, Sandra and Ernie, make it their personal mission to get to know every single one of their customers. Their warm hospitality leads many guests to describe this place as their “home away from home,” and many refuse to stay anywhere else in Wildwood.    From the street, the motel is hard to miss. Exterior doors are painted a shade of bright, sunflower yellow that stands out easily against the building’s white walls. The front office is a small, sunny room that sits adjacent to a lovely plant-covered front porch.  

The Sunflower is located on East Glenwood Avenue, two blocks from the beach and the boardwalk. It’s about a 10-minute walk to Morey’s Pier and about a six-minute walk to Raging Waters Water Park. The motel is about a five-minute drive from the Wildwoods Convention Center. 

Rooms at the Sunflower are stuck in the 70s, with dark wood paneled walls, thick green carpeting, and pilling cushioned furniture. Beds are dressed in thin, forrest-green comforters, but some headboards and dressers have been updated. Most rooms have flat-screen TVs, but some still have old tubes. There are several room options, including Standard Motel Rooms, Efficiencies, and Two Room Suites. Standard Motel Rooms feature one or two queen-size beds and are equipped with microwaves and mini-fridges. Efficiencies also have one or two queen-size beds along with kitchenettes. The kitchenettes feature full-size refrigerators, a two-top burner, a microwave, and a small dining area. Two Room Suites have all the amenities of an Efficiency, but have separate bedroom and living room spaces. There are also several multi-bedroom apartments available for weekly rentals. The apartments are a bit more updated than the rooms, with new carpeting and nicer furniture, but are still basic. Bathrooms throughout are small and dark, with old, original tile, but the towels are plentiful and the fixtures are sparkling. Despite their design flaws, rooms at the Sunflower are immaculately clean. During the peak season, there is a minimum stay requirement for all room rentals.   

The pool at the Sunflower is quite small, but sees its fair share of swimmers during the day. The pool is surrounded by a small gated patio with a few plastic-slatted lounge chairs. During the day, the pool area seems to stay quieter than many others in the area, probably because the strictly enforced “registered guests only” policy keeps adults and kids from neighboring motels off the property. Above the pool there are two sun decks with more lounge chairs and picnic tables. Behind the motel’s private parking lot is a small deck with a gas grill and barbecue area. This is also where the on-site coin operated laundry machines are. There are free parking and free Wi-Fi for all Sunflower guests.