Photographs May 2002: Kummerlowe
 
Buffalo-Thruway, New York -- 6700 Transit Rd
 

The Thruway Motor Lodge and Restaurant was the second Howard Johnson's to have been located near Buffalo's airport. Sited immediately along I-90, the Thruway Howard Johnson's complemented an older Motor Lodge/Restaurant complex that was directly across from the airport. The Thruway's 80 room two-story classically configured Motor Lodge opened in 1970 and remained a HoJo's until about 1993.

Converted after 1993 into a Holiday Inn Express, the site's signature A-Frame Gate Lodge was demolished and replaced with an indoor swimming pool and exercise area. After the Gate Lodge was razed, the Restaurant was converted into the property's lobby.

 
 
 
Aerial views © Microsoft Corp.
 
Note that the parking area extended well beyond the guest buildings--no doubt that the extra space had been intended for expansion that never came.
 
 
 
Photographs 2006: Steven LJ Russo
 
By the middle 2000s, the former Motor Lodge was converted yet again. Hoisting the Clarion flag, the Restaurant's (turned lobby) roof was painted white and the blue Holiday Inn Express color was largely banished from the site.
 
 
 
 

Above: The unused freezer hatch behind a grill and copy machine!

Below: The Restaurant remade into the property's lobby.
 
 
 
Photograph 2005: Steven LJ Russo
 
 
Photograph May 2005: Kummerlowe
 
 
 
 
Photographs 2005: Steven LJ Russo
 
The property's outdoor pool was filled in after an indoor swimming pool was constructed--nonetheless the old pool site remained evident (No diving into the lawn please!).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photographs 2006: Steven LJ Russo
 

Above: Rooms facing the site of the former swimming pool retained their sliders.

Below & Lower: Guest rooms on the second floor still featured beamed ceilings and pamper panels as recently as the middle 2000s.
 
 
 
 
 
Photograph May 2002: Kummerlowe
 
 
Photographs August 2008: Phil Edwards
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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