Atlantic City, at least as a destination, has been dying for decades. Places become abandoned similarly to how most living things die: slowly, and then suddenly all at once.
Post-apocalyptic landscapes are often most notable not for what remains, but for what is missing: the people. Pre-pandemic, it felt novel to explore a ghost town or resort in its off-season. Since the early 1800s, the city, located on a barrier island off the coast of New Jersey, has offered ample opportunities to do both. She enjoys feeding her money into slot machines I prefer to exchange mine for dusty souvenirs. In October, 2016, I took my mom to Atlantic City for her birthday.
