North Platte

Rack card circa 1980: Courtesy of Dan Donahue

Hotel Internet image circa 2005

North Platte, Nebraska

-- 3201 South Jeffers St

With its 80 guest rooms arranged in a typical highway type Motor Lodge layout, the North Platte complex was the second of only two authentic Howard Johnson's to have ever served the Cornhusker State. When it opened in 1972 it was an early adopter of the Mansard-style and even incorporated mansards into the flat roofed guest buildings--like Orlando-Airport or perhaps a variation of Colorado Springs or Asheville.

The Motor Lodge lasted as a Howard Johnson's until 1984 and by the 2000s was operating as a Ramada Limited.

Photographs August 2006: Courtesy of Phil Edwards

Hotel Internet images circa 2005

During a remodel the abbreviated balcony/patio space was incorporated into the guest rooms resulting in larger rooms. However without sliders, the exterior became too austere and lost its curb appeal.

Photographs August 2006: Courtesy of Phil Edwards

Right: The Restaurant likely remained a HoJo's along with the Motor Lodge until 1984. While both its exterior and interior ware radically altered, patrons were still able to see a portion of the original backbar where the dairy bar had once been!

Below: Note that the extended canopy at the restaurant's entrance was not an original feature even as the beacon's base was used on top to hold the Hunan restaurant sign.

Hotel Internet image circa 2005

Photographs August 2006: Courtesy of Phil Edwards