Miami

AirportWest

Howard Johnson's Landmark: March 1972, page 6

Miami-Airport West, Florida -- 7330 N W 36th St
AKA Palmetto Expressway

An early example of an Eastern U.S. Mansard type complex, Airport West was opened by the end of 1971 with 120 guest rooms. The image above shows the opening staff of its 108 seat Restaurant featuring "new nautical decor," blue color scheme, and new hostess uniforms."

1999 was the Motor Lodge's last year as a HoJo's. Subsequently it was converted into a Best Inn.

Image from Best Inn's website

BroadCauseway

Brochure circa 1980s: Courtesy of Dan Donahue

Miami-Broad Causeway
-- 12210 Biscayne Blvd (U.S. 1)

Like several other Florida Motor Lodges, Broad Causeway was purged from the ranks in 1999. Opened in early 1971, the modern hotel-like complex was built on a relatively small parcel of land offering guests the choice of 96 rooms in its five stories. It likely featured a drive under A-frame Gate Lodge with both its lobby and Restaurant in-the-building, but no vintage views have surfaced.

During 2000 the location became a Holiday Inn, but by May of 2006 had been converted yet again and was called the Best Western Windsor Inn.

Photograph February 2004 -- Still wearing Holiday Inn Green

Downtown

Miami-Downtown Plaza
-- 200 S E 2nd Ave

Perhaps resembling the earlier built Lake Buena Vista Motor Lodge/hotel complex, Downtown Plaza or Convention Center was a standardized downtown high rise located in a prime spot that opened in the fall of 1975.

The 14 floor 256 room facility was a completely modern high rise hotel in the heart of downtown Miami's busy convention district.

David King Gleason: Over Miami, page 7
© 1990 Louisiana State University Press

Brochure June 1988: Courtesy of Dan Donahue

Giving up the Howard Johnson name in 1993, the facility was first converted into a Holiday Inn. However with its coveted location, the site was extensively renovated in order to become a decidedly upscale Courtyard by Marriott.

Note in my poor looking-into-the-setting-sun through-the-windshield don't-try-this-whilst-driving shot to the right, that not only was the former HoJo's convenient for conventioneers, but also sported an excellent curb appeal view for motorists headed south through Miami on U. S Highway 1! The white arrow in the shot above shows the direction of my travel as I took the photo seen to the right.

Photo February 2004

Image circa 2005: From hotel website

KeyBiscayne

Key Biscayne, Florida -- 798 Crandon Blvd

Hardly a HoJo's -- the property at 798 Crandon adopted the Howard Johnson name in 1980 and no doubt paid its franchise fees, but it would have disappointed any guest who had expected a typical Motor Lodge. Its listing in HJ directories always came with the "no restaurant on premises" disclaimer! The non-standard location was eventually converted into condominiums.