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Howard Johnson's on
The Turner Turnpike
 
 
Stroud 170 Seats
 
Wellston 40 Seats*
 
Hayburn Counter Only
 
Bristow Counter Only*
 
Chandler Counter Only
 
*Also a Stuckey's Snack Bar
 
 
 
 
Postcards circa 1950s & 1960s
 
The Turner Turnpike
Stroud Concession
 

The first Howard Johnson's on the Turner Turnpike was the Stroud Concession. The Stroud Restaurant opened July 1, 1953, and was conveniently located midway between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Featuring a Gift Shop along with its food service, the Howard Johnson Company had high hopes for the unit's success. The Restaurant was to be one of five Howard Johnson's along the Turner--initially only two were to be full fledged Restaurants, with the other three offering quick counter service. 

Stroud was opened with great fanfare--Howard D. Johnson along with a handful of the Company's executives, Oklahoma Turnpike officials, and dignitaries from Phillips 66 were all on hand to usher in the new age of modern travel and convenience for motorists in the Sooner State.
 
 
 

Since the Turnpike Authority constructed a restaurant facility on  only one side of the Turnpike, it built a footbridge over the highway to allow motorists traveling in both directions access to it. The unique bridge was later demolished.

Here is a link showing another view of Stroud and its unusual bridge.

 
 
With all locals working in Stroud, Howard Johnson's brought in Bill Shaw from New England to manage the unit. Gifts and HJ packaged food products were important profit items and featured prominently at Stroud.

 
 

The Howard Johnson...Scoop August, 1953

 
 
 
 
Photographs August 17, 1992: Courtesy of Scott Sargent
 
 
Having been abandoned by 1992, Scott Sargent discovered Stroud's sad remains empty and awaiting the wrecker's ball.
 
 
 
 
It's "modern" building pointed to a future path not taken...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postcards circa 1950s
 
Unidentified concessions on the Turner Turnpike
 
 
 
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