Birmingham's modern mid-rise Mansard complex made its debut in 1974. With its 160 guest rooms on 6 floors in two large guest buildings, a lighted tennis court, an oversized pool, and meeting and banquet rooms, the facility remained a HJ Motor Lodge for a little more than two decades. Losing its famous name in the middle 1990s it was painted and stuccoed into a Comfort Inn. Reasonably well cared for and not significantly altered, the unit continued to resemble its original appearance.

In January of 2006 the former Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge lost its Comfort Inn brand affiliation and became the Vestavia Hills Hotel. Following a brief transition the property operated as a Quality Inn and then in the 2010s became a Days Inn.