Anticipating
the rise in tourism in the Orlando area, the then largest
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge in Florida was opened in September
of 1971 -- just seven miles from the entrance to Walt Disney
World. Boasting 261 guest rooms, Major Center was a licensed
high-rise Lodge that also included a traditional Orange Roofed
Restaurant and Red Coach Grill.
Due
to unusual circumstances the Red Coach Grill was converted
into a Ground Round in 1973 then back into a Red Coach in
1975!
With
its 8,000 cubic yards of concrete and over 20,000 concrete
blocks, the Major Center HoJo's complex remained largely intact
until 1992. |