Augusta, Georgia

Postcard circa 1959

Augusta, Georgia -- 1250 Gordon Highway (U.S. 1)

OPENED

OWNERSHIP

AMENITIES - 1959

STATUS

April 20, 1958

Charles Mooney

50 air conditioned units
telephones
full size TVs
kitchenettes
carpeted floors
restaurant adjoining
room parking
recreation area
24-Hour Hotel Service

Open in 2007 as the
Parliament Resort

Satellite image from Google Earth

Photographs 1998

Like Alamo Plazas built in Gulfport and Columbus, the Augusta unit was ideally sited to serve a nearby military base as well as motorists just passing through. Due to its proximity to Fort Gordon and on account of the general demand for area lodging, Augusta's Plaza enjoyed many years of successful operation. However by the late 1980s the site had been largely passed by. Interstate highways served to reroute motorists depositing them at the stoops of a variety of modern and new hospitality offerings. Having become a motel of last resort, the once forward looking Alamo Plaza fell into disrepair and hard times.

Above: Only recently rescued in 1998, Augusta still wore its "Alamo Plaza Hotel Courts -- Welcome" labelscar.

Photographs 2006: Courtesy of Tim Steedly

Transformed
With its fortunes faded, Augusta had reached a crossroads. Seemingly destined for demolition, the former Alamo Plaza was instead saved and remarkably reborn. An ongoing project, by the middle 2000s it had been carefully remade into The Parliament Resort & Social Club.

Completely remodeled, what had become a broken down motel was transformed into a members only resort for gay men. In season, its grounds offer guests a lush tropical setting with towering banana trees, roses, hibiscus and hundreds of flowering cannas. In addition to its 70 guest rooms, the facility also features a steam room, hot tub, TV lounge, maze, novice dungeon, gift shop, an outdoor swimming pool, and a cafe with weekend hours. In addition, a campground/RV park is being developed on adjacent property which will further serve to enhance the former Alamo Plaza.