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Photographs April 3, 2005
 
 
While the room was adequate and retained many HoJo's features, it did not live up to Howard Johnson's expectations. Obviously maintenance was being deferred. A 1990s remodel rendered the interior walls covered in stucco--it was a poor decision, for in many places and especially in the bathroom, the stucco was crumbling off of the uncleaned walls.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photograph March 2003: Courtesy of Dan Donahue
 
 
 

An Origial Holiday Inn
In 1968 Holiday Inn opened in Winter Haven--its second Cypress Gardens area location. Featuring 100 rooms at first, later the property was more than doubled in size. The two abandoned guest buidlings shown here were built in the far rear of the site along with a swimming pool. It is interesting that the property features a "ghost" section of vintage HI rooms!

The still open (in 2005) and very busy Holiday Inn is immediately adjacent to the Winter Haven Howard Johnson. Its in-the-building restaurant had been converted into a Country Kitchen and featured extremely poor service and should be avoided.

Photos April 3, 2005
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
Within walking distance of the Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson is Andy's Drive Inn and Igloo. On its third owner, this mid-twentieth century drive-in still had its wonderful vintage neon road sign.
 
 
 
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