Get Crazy, Get Wild. Let’s Party, Get Loud! Touring the Jersey Shore House in Seaside Heights
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“It’s T-shirt time!” Cab’s are here!” We got a situation” “Gym, Tan, Laundry.” “Yeah Buddy!” “Party’s here!” If these quotes are immediately recognizable to you, then you have probably watched the original run of Jersey Shore a time or 2. As one of the most popular reality TV shows of all time, these catchphrases are forever stuck in most of our millennial minds. In 2009, MTV introduced the world to 8 strangers who would share a summer vacation home in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
The wide appeal of the cast led to the series being renewed for 6 seasons as well as several spin offs. To be honest, I am not a big fan of Family Vacation as it just doesn’t have the same appeal but I do love catching reruns of the original seasons. With over the top partying, guidos, tanning, hilarious sayings, fist pumping, grenades, Sammi and Ron fighting constantly, the duck phone, The Shore Store, and the overall crazy antics of the cast, the unique show was sometimes crazy, always memorable, and anything but boring.
I am not a big fan of reality TV but I did watch this show consistently. After all those years following the cast and their crazy adventures at The Shore, I knew I had to take a tour of the house while conveniently living close by in Philly. This tour was top on my list of things to do on a recent vacation to Atlantic City (we stayed in the gorgeous Borgata). The shore is an easy 1 hr daytrip so a great side trip if you are vacationing here.
I love visiting TV and movie sites around the country, so this was a fun addition to my bucket list. I had a great time seeing the actual house where The Situation, Ronnie, Sammi, Snooki, Pauly D, JWoww, Vinnie, Angelina, and Deena lived, laughed, fought, cried, and shared some hilarious times together. The tour is cheap and fun and I definitely recommend forking over the ten bucks if you are a fan.
Touring the house made famous by MTV!
At The Shore Store, you can purchase tickets for a 15-20 min tour of the actual house that the cast filmed at. Tours are usually only available in the summer. The price is just 10 bucks per person, so a great budget friendly activity for fans. Note that you can rent out the house for a whopping $3000! Because tours bring in more money, the house is not available for rentals during the summer months. Just goes to show how many dedicated fans still exist today!
Below are a few pics we took during our tour. You will have plenty of time to take photos. Our guide was nice enough to take pictures of any couples/groups on the tour. Of particular interest to me: the duck phone, the wall where cast members spray painted their names, the Sunday dinner table, and the confessional. On a side note, it’s crazy how small this house is in person. I kept thinking – how did so many people live here? No wonder they fought so much! The bedrooms are so tiny! I can’t imagine sleeping in those tiny beds! I guess it was worth all the cramping as they are all millionaires today!
Who could forget the famous Duck phone which quacks instead of rings? You can take a fun photo opp here which is pretty cool.
The cast members all spray painted their names on the wall before leaving.
Where the cast had their famous Sunday family dinners. This meal often brought the entire cast dinner as they indulged on a lot of old-school Italian food. Like the rest of the house, it seems so small to me.
Most of the funniest moments took place in the confessional. I especially loved all the funny one liners from Pauly D and The Situation.
Mike and I posing for a quick photo by the duck phone. The staff was so nice taking our picture for us.
A few more pics around the property. Excuse the poor quality photos. There was a lot of sunlight streaming through the house!
Also, if you would like to just see the exterior of the house with the famous Italian flag painting on the garage, simply walk over and take your picture. It will cost you nothing. We lucked out as there was really no one around on our visit so we freely took whatever pictures we wanted.
The Shore Store
If you have watched the original series, then you know to stay at Danny Merk’s boardwalk property, the cast had to work at The Shore Store. According to this In Touch article, Vinnie told reporters that the cast made nothing the first season except profits made by working at The Shore Store. Danny paid the cast $10-15 an hour during Season 1, but I think the real perk was getting to live in the house rent free for the entire summer!
Sounds like a great deal, eh? As the show gained popularity, the cast’s salary increased monumentally. In comparison, The Situation and Pauly D made over $150,000 each episode for Jersey Shore: Family Vacation!
As the store was featured prominently on the show, I was excited to browse around. Not only will you be able to sign up for the house tour, but they sell some really cool show themed merchandise. T-shirts, magnets, mugs…basically anything and everything. We bought a few GTL magnets. On a site note, as of 2026, Danny is still the owner of The Shore Store and the house.
“The Shore”
The Shore is a nickname for the 140 miles of Atlantic coastline from Cape May Point to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. With beaches, boardwalks, tacky tourist shops, arcades, amusement park rides, it’s a popular summer destination. From Vegas style casinos in Atlantic City, to charming Victorian Inns in Cape May, there is something along The Shore for everyone.
Because of its’ central Northeastern location, it’s a popular destination not just for Jersey locals, but also for many New England tourists. It is an easy drive from many major cities including: Philly (1.5 hours), New York (1.5 hours), and Baltimore (3 hours).
Seaside Heights
Not surprisingly, Seaside Heights became more famous after this show aired (as is usually the case). Many tourist shops, arcades, and food stands line the 2 mile wooden boardwalk. You will find lots of places where you can indulge in comfort foods like ice cream, French fries, and pizza.
Casino Pier opened in 1932, was partially destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and since, then has been restored and expanded. Today you will find a number of carnival style rides like bumper cars, swings, and a Ferris Wheel.
And of course, the beach is gorgeous. Unfortunately, there is a $13 per person admission fee to help keep crowds and cleaning costs down. Tip: Visit before 10am for free beach access.
The famous Sky Lift rides
I’ve always wanted to take one of these rides especially since it was featured in the opening credits. The ride is relaxing and offers fabulous views of both the beach and boardwalk. From here you will pass over The Shore Store. I loved seeing all the action on the boardwalk from above. Plus, I saw a few shops that I wanted to check out after the ride.
Can you make out the rooftop hot tub in the pic? You will not see this area during your tour unfortunately, but you can take a peek from the chairlift. I was surprised to learn during our visit that it is on top of The Shore Store, not the house as they made it appear on TV.
I really love strolling around these quirky old time boardwalks – here are a few more great ones if you are interested in traveling.
Additional info
Where is The Shore Store located?
The address is: 1209 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751.
What are the hours? 7 days a week, 9am- Midnight (2am on Sat & Sun). Check the website for seasonal changes.
How long is the tour?
Each tour lasts about 15 minutes. The house is very small (it looks bigger on TV!) and does not take a lot of time to explore. Honestly, I don’t know how so many people crammed into such a small space!
How much is the tour?
$10 per person, current as of spring 2026.
Is there parking?
Metered parking and all day lots available in the area.
How can I rent the entire house? How much does it cost?
According to Seaside Realty, it will cost a whopping $3500! This price is for 1 night for up to 12 people. I guess if you went in with a lot of people and didn’t mind intense crowing, it wouldn’t be so bad if you love the show. Rooftop access not included. You can book through visiting the realtor’s website or calling.
