| CircusWorld |
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| Brochure
circa 1980s: Courtesy of Dan Donahue |
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Orlando-Circus
World
AKA Southwest or Barnum City
-- 43824
U.S. 27 @ I-4 |
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Also
known as Baseball City, Orlando-South, and Davenport this
complex opened in 1972. It was designed to capture some
of the many tourists attracted to the region after the opening
of Walt Disney World. Additionally it was located across
from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
World attraction. The themed attraction featured a circus
performance as well as a "participation" circus
where visitors could learn to perform circus acts. There
was also a midway that included elephant and roller coaster
rides.
Below:
Note that the Mansards of both the Lobby and Restaurant
faced I-4 so that motorists were able to catch a good view
of the gleaming Orange Roofs.
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| Photograph
April 2003 |
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Circus
World morphed into the short lived Boardwalk and Baseball attraction,
but by the early 1990s it was closed and abandoned. Eventually
evidence of Circus World and Boardwalk and Baseball was erased
from the roadscape, and what had been a mecca of hospitality
establishments built at Orlando/Disney's western gateway experienced
profound changes.
The
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge lost its lease on life in 1995
and was eventually converted into a disguised Holiday Inn Express.
However like other roadside businesses sited at the U.S. 27
and I-4 interchange, it was victim to yet another conversion.
By 2005 it had lost its Holiday Inn banner in favor of Choice
Hotel's Quality Inn badge.
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| Photograph
2007: Courtesy of Larry Passaro |
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| Jetport |
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| USGS
satellite image: © Microsoft Corporation |
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Orlando-Jetport,
Florida
--
3535 McCoy Rd |
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Listed
in a couple of Howard Johnson's directories as an "opening
soon" location, Orlando-Jetport was never
built. It was to have occupied the space outlined in the above satellite
image, and its address came to be used by a gas station that in
its last life was a car lot called Cars on the Way.
Confusing
the matter, a preexisting motel (labeled the former Econo Lodge
and Clarion above) was converted into a Howard Johnson in 1994 --
well after the Howard Johnson Company had ceased to exist.
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IT
DOES NOT COUNT! |
Later
the "fake" Howard Johnson became a Four Points by Sheraton.
After that, it worked itself in two becoming an Econo Lodge and
Clarion! However by the middle 2000s it had lost its Choice Hotel
brands, and in 2006 went by the name Orlando International Airport
Hotel. |
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| Samdlake |
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Opened
in the summer of 1972, the Sea World complex offered
150 units, heated pool, wading pool, playground,
and 2 lighted tennis courts on a sprawling well-sited
parcel along I-4. By the middle 1990s no evidence
remained save for its recycled road signs. |
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Orlando-Sea
World, Florida
AKA International
Drive
--
8020 International Dr (Sandlake Rd @ I-4) |
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| USGS
satellite image: © Microsoft Corporation |
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| AirportWest |
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| Postcard
circa 1970s: Courtesy of Tim & Tom Bernert |
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Orlando-Airport
West
-- 8820 S.
Orange Blossom |
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Dating
from the summer of 1972, Airport-West differed from usual
Motor Lodge design of the era in that its guest buildings
used a less-expensive flat roof design, and shingled mansards
adorned each abbreviated balcony. The Motor Lodge remained
a HoJo until about 1993. Eventually it was converted into
a Holiday Inn Express. |
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| Aerial
views: © Microsoft Corporation |
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Confusing
the matter, after this authentic location lost the Howard Johnson
name in 1993, a preexisting nearby motel slapped up the HJ. |
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