Arlington

Photographs March 2004: Courtesy of Phil Edwards

A Howard Johnson's Restaurant Service Plaza was near the Fina station seen in Phil's photo to the left. The Plaza's footprint was larger than the service station or the two box-restaurants that were built on the site.

The once recognizable Gate Lodge was rendered hideously ugly by 2004. It is really nearly unbelievable how God Awful it became.

The Arlington Motor Lodge has been rebranded at least SEVEN times since 1983. After its first life as a HoJo's, it was a Best Western, Turnpike Inn, Days Inn, Guest House, Roadway Inn, and Stadium Inn before once again becoming a Howard Johnson!

The Howard Johnson's had a brilliant location, for Six Flags over Texas, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (formerly Wet 'n Wild), an elaborate convention facility, and a host of other Arlington area attractions were all adjacent or nearby.

Aerial images accessed April 9, 2006: www.mapblast.com © Microsoft Corp

TexasTurnpike

Postcard circa 1960s (detail)

Howard Johnson's 1962 Annual Report to Shareholders

Counted among the Howard Johnson Company's many Toll Road Restaurants, the one between Dallas and Fort Worth served travelers after the limited access highway opened in August 27, 1957. Directories imply that there were two locations--one eastbound and one westbound. However it is more likely that there was only one that was accessible from both directions.

Once the Arlington Motor Lodge was opened, the Service Plaza Restaurant served to compliment the Lodge. The Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike eventually became I-30, lost its status as a toll road on Dec 31, 1977 and was subsequently renamed the Tom Landry Freeway.

Howard Johnson's Landmark circa early 1960s

There MAY have been a second Howard Johnson's Restaurant Service Plaza on the north side of the Turnpike, but it is more likely that there was only the one that the Arlington Motor Lodge was built adjacent to.