How “The Disney of the Northeast” Fights for a Cure

Cardinale Enterprises is due to transform Jackson, and all of Central Jersey, as we know it. Though that claim might sound hyperbolic, it’s nothing of the sort. Vito Cardinale of Cardinale Enterprises explains how his company is due to impact the area not just temporarily, but for the far future. Cardinale Enterprises will not just be revolutionizing local industry–they’re going to be transforming the medical world for years to come.

It begins with Adventure Crossing, right off of Route 95 in Jackson Township, New Jersey. After attempting to purchase the property next to 6 Flags over the course of ten years, Cardinale was successful. The goal? To build not just a sports and entertainment facility, but to foster a community where people can live, work, and play. The aim of this project is nothing short of altruistic. Vito Cardinale explains, “The goal for Adventure Crossing here in Jackson is to build one of the biggest brain institutes that focuses on neurological disorders such as, Parkinson’s, and ALS.”

This aspiration began years ago, when Vito’s wife, Linda, passed away from MS. Vito, in partnership with others, established the Linda E. Cardinale Multiple Sclerosis Center at CentraState Hospital in Freehold, in order to accommodate and support families in similar situations. Adam McIndoe, President of Netwave Interactive Marketing, explains that this Center “started this initiative,” referring to Adventure Crossing.

The continuous property of three hundred acres has already begun its development, with the baseball field–with 1,500-2,000 weekend visitors–and dome being complete. These two advents are described as a “stepping stone” to the ultimate goal of having a convention center, with a couple of Hiltons and a Marriot being there to support the immense number of guests that will be heading to Jackson in years to come. Vito attests, “It won’t be very difficult to attract people, because we have a lot going on.” Right in the middle of the state, tenants have already begun to move in. Vito says, “If you look at a typical, traditional development, they always build the residential first, and then the businesses come in. But if you look at our case, you can see that we’ve been very fortunate: We’ve had tenants come in early.” Already populated with Carvel, Cinnabon, Aunty Anne’s, Panda Express, and more, Adventure Crossing shows no signs of slowing down in terms of offerings for future community members and tourists alike. With tenants that do a great job at attracting families, alongside neighbor 6 Flags, Vito says, “At some point, this becomes the Disney of the Northeast.”

With the goal of making “The Shore indoors,” Adventure Crossing will be featuring indoor winter sports, live music, and other fantastic events, all for those yearning for a Jersey summer year-round. “We try to make it a quality experience,” Vito says. He can already imagine a family’s stay at Adventure Crossing: While Mom and Dad are away at their convention in the dome, kids and grandparents have the ease of access to the park itself and 6 Flags next door. “We’re making New Jersey something for everyone. We want this location to be that ‘something’ for everyone.” If one wants to leave the property, there are more than enough options, with the Jersey Shore in one direction and the Turnpike in the other for convenient access to Philadelphia, Maryland, and more. Other conveniences include Cardinale Enterprises’s understanding of members of the community. Adam McIndoe explains, “It’s not like when you go to other sporting events where it’s $7 for a soda and $12 for a beer. Everything is reasonable. It’s family friendly. It’s about families coming together, enjoying traveling, supporting each other, and having a good time in a manageable way. Not only are you saving the flights–you’re staying in New Jersey.”

New Jersey, while popular in the summer, is due to become a tourist destination year-round. The dome of Adventure Crossing will also be hosting sporting events, with Adam elaborating, “You have kids flying down to Florida, Delaware, Virginia.” Instead of paying the immense air fare for such a trip, one may now take a short drive down to Jackson and be there all day. “There are reasons to spend all weekend here,” Adam says. “It supports the town; it supports the community.”

In terms of community support, Vito explains the fantastic economic opportunities for the nearby towns. During the construction phase of Adventure Crossing, more than two thousand jobs will be created, with over two thousand permanent jobs being created upon its completion. Adam elaborates, “You build the reaction to bring the families, to populate the hotels. There are a lot of moving pieces along the way.” With the dome being able to support car shows, parties, weddings, and more, it is easy to see the vision that Adam and Vito have for people’s thoughts on the Central Jersey location: You have to see what’s out there. Being a center of sports and entertainment, Vito muses, “How could you ask for more?”

Vito explains how it’s not just work and play that will draw families to Adventure Crossing. He attests how they will realize that the money they spend at the destination will be going to medical research. The ultimate goal of Adventure is to serve as an “economic engine,” fueling and providing funding for the Brain Institute that will be built nearby. He is thankful for the understanding that local government and partners have had for the goal of Adventure.

The transformation of medical care through the Brain Institute will include the development of an Education and Research Campus, Vito explains, there will be one-hundred-and-fifty students of each class being taken through an educational research campus. The Education and Research Campus will be developed with multiple medical institutions and university partners for the purpose of educating and training cohorts of high-achieving-hard- working students to learn and apply knowledge for the cure of MS and other neurological diseases. Development and devotion, a passion of curing diseases will be fostered in this elite and applied environment. Cultivating young minds that are focused on a cure is the future. Vito says, “In case I didn’t cure the disease with my Brain Institute, I'd at least develop young minds that go back home, nationally and internationally, and are in the business of curing diseases.” Working with scientists from the National MS Society, Vito is proud of how far they’ve come already. “This is going to be an education and research campus fostering innovation to produce a cure!"

His philosophy is simple: “Planting a seed in the ground, and the tree grows. I want to plant a seed in the ground, I want the tree to grow, and I want my children to take that fruit and harvest it.” A first generation American himself, Vito is proud to plant that seed for his family, but also for the future students curing brain diseases . “This is all for something that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. Show me where you can bring a family, enjoy all of the beautiful qualities of this state, and fund something that goes after diseases.”

Acknowledging that there are many preventative maintenance drugs for MS in the United States, Vito says, “I’m not looking to create another. I’m looking for cures.” The goal to eradicate MS off the map is clear on some of the Cardinale trucks, advertising The Adventure has arrived, and MS is leaving.

Vito Cardinale attributes his faith for much of the journey that he’s gone on for Adventure Crossing and the development of an Education and Research Campus. “People ask, ‘Why wasn’t this land developed? Why aren’t they putting hotels here?’ God had a mission.” The popular adage of God working in mysterious ways reigns true for Cardinale, knowing that the location of Adventure Crossing was “meant to be”. He understands that MS has been around for a long time and will not be cured in two weeks, despite wishing it so. “I’m going to do whatever I can to save the 2.9 million people in the world that have MS.”

Adventure Crossing isn’t the only endeavor that Cardinale has pursued. In Bayville, Cardinale Enterprises received approval to build one-hundred-and-fifty housing units for veterans through Tunnel for Towers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to families of fallen first responders of September 11th. Vito’s passion for the organization and assisting veterans is one of his greatest prides. He says, “I’m very aware of their mission, and it’s probably one of the proudest things that I can say that I’m going to do. I don’t know how to thank these people.” With no cost to the veterans, the plan has had nothing but eagerness and support from the local community, as they know that it is not just another development. Cardinale said no to developments for more than twenty years, unwilling to build something that did not benefit the community. Happy with the beauty of the building–likening it to Boca Raton–Vito is ecstatic to build housing for those that need help. “You can do a lot if you think outside of the box. Why don’t I build affordable housing for people with MS and for veterans?”

The housing projects don’t end there. In Barnegat, Cardinale has plans for building one-hundred-and-fifty units, with two-thirds of those being dedicated to those with special needs. Adam says, “It’s development for the community. It’s not for profit.” The Linda E. Cardinale Wing recently held its twenty-third annual Gala, which raised enough funds to provide seven-hundred-and-fifty Wellness Program weeks to needy patients. The facility itself, over the past ten years, has gotten service to more than three-thousand people, all aimed at family care.

There’s plenty to look forward to in Jackson. Once Adventure Crossing is complete, consider Central Jersey for your next family vacation–after all, all the work and play will be going to a fantastic cause. Vito says it best: “The goal is to take MS out. It’s to stop it from destroying families.”