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Postcard
ca. 1970s: Kummerlowe |
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Biloxi,
Mississippi --
9200 West Beach Dr (2428 Beach Blvd-U.S. 90) |
Built
during the Mississippi Gulf coast's long redevelopment following
Hurricane
Camille ,
the Biloxi Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant complex
opened in 1973. Featuring contemporary design, the property lacked
a Gate Lodge or separate lobby, yet it included an attached "A"
frame Restaurant--complete with a finned spire cupola topped by
a Simple Simon and the Pieman weather vane. Finally, a Rum Keg
Lounge rounded out the property's offerings.
The
modern space-saving high rise Motor Lodge design featured about
200 guest rooms in its relatively compact seven-story building.
The Biloxi beachfront Howard Johnson's may have been developed
by the sizeable McLean Enterprise operation located in Springfield,
Missouri (based on archival records Biloxi was operated at
least for a period of time by McLean). Located across U.S. 90
from the Gulf of Mexico, the Biloxi franchise remained a Howard
Johnson until the 1990s.
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Brochure
ca. 1970s: Dan Donahue |
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1984
AAA TourBook page A62: Kummerlowe |
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Postcard
ca. 1990s: Kummerlowe |
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Above:
Upon leaving the Orange Fold, Biloxi called itself the Gulf
beach resort hotel. Note from the postcard view that the Restaurant
had become independent and that an entryway was created where
the Dairy Bar's floor-to-ceiling windows had been.
Below
& Lower: Flirting with a brand and the advantages
of a reservations network, the former Howard Johnson's briefly
became the Gulf Beach Travelodge. Having become valuable property
after casino gaming took off on the Mississippi Coast, a Waffle
House was installed in the former Restaurant. Note that the
"new" entry mentioned above was removed.
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Photographs
1999 : Kummerlowe |
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Photos
2003 : Phil Edwards |
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Above
& below: By Phil Edwards' visit,
the Travelodge name had been dropped and the old Howard Johnson
had become just the Gulf Beach Resort once again (minus the word
"hotel" on its sign). Biloxi, having been transformed
by gaming, had become the site of wholesale redevelopment by 2005--in
fact developers had come to covet the former HoJo's site.
Developer Ken Barnes of Gulf Beach Associates LLC called it "the
best location on the beach." The former Howard Johnson's
was slated to have been razed and replaced with an 18 story "upscale
condominium tower" featuring 230 units ranging in size from
efficiencies to 3,000 sq. ft. penthouses.
Below:
Craig Trent had the opportunity to take in the former Biloxi Howard
Johnson's one last time. He reported that the Motor Lodge was
suffering from serious neglect, but that the Restaurant, as a
Waffle House, looked to be in decent shape. Back when the complex
was new, he stayed there with his family and recalled his visit
fondly. |
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Photo
ca. 2005: Craig Trent |
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