CircusWorld
 
Brochure circa 1980s: Courtesy of Dan Donahue
Orlando-Circus World
AKA Southwest or Barnum City
 -- 43824 U.S. 27 @ I-4
 

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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photograph April 2003
 

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.

 
Photograph 2007: Courtesy of Larry Passaro
 
 
 

Jetport
 
USGS satellite image: © Microsoft Corporation
 
Orlando-Jetport, Florida -- 3535 McCoy Rd
 

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.

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.
 
 

Samdlake
 
Postcard circa 1970s
 
 
Photographs March 2003
 
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.
Orlando-Sea World, Florida
 AKA International Drive
 -- 8020 International Dr (Sandlake Rd @ I-4)
 
 
 
 
 
USGS satellite image: © Microsoft Corporation
 
 

AirportWest
 
Postcard circa 1970s: Courtesy of Tim & Tom Bernert
Orlando-Airport West
 -- 8820 S. Orange Blossom
 
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.
 
 
Aerial views: © Microsoft Corporation
 
Confusing the matter, after this authentic location lost the Howard Johnson name in 1993, a preexisting nearby motel slapped up the HJ.