This complex was able to prosper for many years because of its excellent location. Originally the stretch of highway (U.S. Hwy 70 & 29) was a major route which served to bypass Lexington's town center. Later the highway became part of the Interstate system as I-85.

The place had a perfect mix of travelers and locals. But as time and progress motored on, the road could no longer handle the traffic generated by being part of a major Interstate, and it too was bypassed by a new alignment of I-85. While it remains U.S. 70 & 29, the road was also allowed a reference to the Interstate system as Business I-85. But the vast bulk of highway travelers do not take the "old road," leaving once prosperous chains like Howard Johnson's to wither away or to become something local like Avery's Restaurant and the Royal-8 Motel.