|
Business
Directory 1970: Robby Delius |
|
Rocky
Mount , North Carolina |
--
1821
N Wesleyan Blvd (U.S. 301 N.) |
|
The
Rocky Mount Motor Lodge was opened in 1956--around the same
time as similarly configured locations in Southern
Pines, Ocala,
and the prototype in Little
Rock. The complex was superbly sited along By-Pass U.S.
301 near where it split off from Business U.S. 301 on the
north side of Rocky Mount.
Initially
the site featured only 36 guest rooms, and it was considered
a novel idea back in 1956 to offer a standardized and branded
lodging facility!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postcard
circa 1956: Kummerlowe |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postcards
circa 1960s: Kummerlowe |
|
Remarkably
Rocky Mount was kept up to date over the years. More modern guest
rooms were added, and the property even boasted of having an enclosed
heated swimming pool by the mid 1960s. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodges numbered only a few at the time that
Rocky Mount opened, the Howard Johnson Company allowed its early
franchisees to join the Superior Motel chain. This gave the new
Motor Lodges national exposure in Superior's directory of locations.
Superior was a referral chain of nonstandard motels originally called
Superior Courts United. By the end of the 1950s, Howard Johnson's
had a powerful enough presence that sub-membership in Superior was
ceased.
|
|
|
Photograph
2002: Bob Venditti |
|
|
|
Photographs
December 29, 2001: Kummerlowe |
|
The
Motor Lodge lost its Howard Johnson's name in 1979 when the nearby
Gold Rock
complex was opened along I-95.
By 2001 a Hardee's had been built where the Restaurant had once
been, but the old HoJo's Motor Lodge managed to carry on as the
Executive Inn catering to longer term lodgers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photographs
October 2002 & April 2003: Phil Edwards |
|
Blocked
up and stuccoed in the ultra-moderne Nims or Ranch style Gate Lodge
is never to be seen again. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photograph
2008: Robby Delius |
|
|
|
Photograph
April 2003: Phil Edwards |
|
|
|
Postcard
circa 1960s: Kummerlowe |
|
|
|
The
purpose of this site is informational. It is neither commercial
nor representative of any brand, company, or business. Trade names,
trademarks, etc. that are depicted remain the property of their
respective owners. Please contact this site's owner
prior to reproducing any part of it. Works from contributors (includes
photographs, ephemera, etc.) must not be reproduced without their
explicit consent.
|
|