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Photographs courtesy
of Rick Briley October, 2003 |
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LaSalle-Peru, Illinois |
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Strategically located
on I-80 (later I-35 too) and U.S. 51 near the Lake DePue Outboard
Races, this Mansard Manor opened in the Fall of 1973.
Rick observed that since
this HJ had such a good proximity to Chicago and was along a
heavy traffic corridor that it "had to have done a killer
business--it would be really hard to believe that this HoJo was
not profitable all the way to the end."
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Alas, Mr. Briley
lamented that the whole complex gave him a sense of disappointment
by the blandness that it exudes.
The Motor Lodge is now
(2003) an Econo Lodge and the Restaurant is called Champs of
Peru Bar & Grill.
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Since it was built
in the early 1970s, the Motor Lodge was still able to offer unabbreviated
authentic balconies with Sliders, and happily the property still
maintained them as is shown in these recent 2003 photos. Unfortunately
like so many other former HJ Motor Lodges, the guest buildings
have been painted white and all of the natural brick or stone
facing material has been covered over, giving the whole place
the blandness that Rick so keenly noted on his visit. |
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