Lake Wales

Photos 2002: Courtesy of Bob Venditti

The Restaurant's roof was painted yellow in the 1980s and Mr. Venditti recalled that at one point it was briefly repatriated as a HoJo's.

The series of photos on this page document the various names used on the Restaurant since the early 2000s. Furthermore, the building's interior has been changed and changed again so that it bears little resemblance to its original Howard Johnson's layout.

Photo February 2001: Kummerlowe Archive

Photo March 2003: Kummerlowe Archive

Photos 2006: Courtesy of Bob Venditti

Photos December 8, 2007: Kummerlowe Archive

U.S. 27 running in front of Lake Wales was originally just a sleepy two-lane highway. An extra set of lanes was eventually added, but by 2007 its four lanes proved insufficient to handle the ever increasing traffic. During 2008 the highway will offer three lanes in either direction. Unfortunately the lane addition has encroached into the front of the old HoJo's, but will apparently not cause any demolition. Nonetheless the future does not bode well for the site. No doubt the land will become more valuable than its continued operation as a motel--albeit a resort motel!