Built in Howard Johnson's most classic and fully realized modern style, the Manning property was opened in the late 1960s at I-95's interchange with U.S. 301. A classic Ramada Inn, Days Inn, and even a vintage Holiday Inn came to occupy sites near the HoJos complex and the area enjoyed a period of prosperity that lasted several years. Eventually new development at other nearby interchanges attracted most of the site's potential patrons resulting in closure of all of its classic branded hospitality offerings. The Howard Johnson's somehow lingered into the late 1980s and remained incredibly intact as a no-name motel until the middle 2000s. Likely no longer quite the time capsule of HoJo's past, Robby discovered during his November 2008 trip down I-95 that it had changed hands and the Gate Lodge's Orange Roof had been painted white.

Please note that the Manning pages have not been updated and contain a few broken image links--eventually I will be able to correct the links and update the pages--thanks for your continued patience, Rich.

Above: A Mansard Manor, Gold Rock's circa 1979 Howard Johnson's yet maintains its name and Orange Mansard! It has also been called Rocky Mount and is now referred to as Battleboro.

Gold Rock's section was last updated on November 9, 2008 with 2006 photos and a couple of vintage early shots by Bob Venditti.

Below: Also known as Cayce, the Columbia-West, South Carolina Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge was added to a circa 1953 Restaurant in the early 1960s. The Motor Lodge continued to be a HoJo's until the middle 1980s and endured a steady but slow decline which lasted until its ultimate closure during 2005. The long-lasting Landmark's erasure will have been completed by mid-December of 2008. A CVS is scheduled to replace it.

Thanks to Tom E. for his timely alert about Cayce's final fate.

Below & Above: Even as late as 1989 the many intact and well maintained vestiges of the Orange Roofed chain continued to highlight the roadscape lulling HoJo's fans into complacency.

By late 2008, the property was still recognizable, but had seen much stucco and many other alterations including an oversized "carport" for the Patels.

Above: The New Castle Restaurant and Motor Lodge complex was among the first group of standardized Howard Johnson's properties, and was officially designated as the 28th Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge when it opened in 1958. An important and exceptionally visible link in the chain, New Castle with its "squat" prototype A-frame Gate Lodge and unusual open gabled Nims-type Restaurant was built just south (west) of the Delaware Memorial Bridge (note the bridge's single span configuration in the photo above seen between the Gate Lodge and guest building--the second span was not completed until the latter 1960s).

Most of the New Castle complex was demolished: however its Gate Lodge and Restaurant were reused as parts of Mike's Famous Harley Davidson and might yet stand.

Below: Opened in 1964, the Newark complex was built in Howard Johnson's fully realized standardized style, yet it featured an unusual guest building arrangement due to the site's terrain. Often Howard Johnson's served as vacation get-a-ways for middle Americans during the booming post war era. Seen below, Mr. Donahue took full advantage of the Orange Roof's many ultramodern amenities. He, his wife, and their brood ventured on many road trips to enjoy HoJo's over the years! (Remember diving boards at motel pools? And how bout that black model 500 standard Bell System dial phone out by the pool for the convenience of Howard Johnson's guests! And see the copycat Yellow roof of Horne's which was just across the street from the Newark HJ!)

Note that the Newark Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge was by late 2008 one of the last original Howard Johnson's Motor Lodges still listed as such.

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