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Photograph courtesy of Phil Edwards
 
 
 
 
 
Photographs courtesy of Ben Schumin
 
 
Left & Above: Sidewalks to nowhere and a giant decommissioned satellite dish that once symbolized the HoJo's modernity to potential patrons.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Above: An end of one of the guest buildings shows some of JMU's infrastructure improvements made for students and other occupants to the former HJ in 2001.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photograph courtesy of Phil Edwards (mouse-over to see the past)
 

Post Script: Closed during the academic year of 2004-2005, JMU officials decided that the former Howard Johnson's would not be entirely demolished after all. Rather the Motor Lodge guest building would be upgraded to current occupancy codes and the facility would be reopened, but this time as a freshman dorm. Ben Schumin wrote that renovations removed the sliders and original balcony railings, but that doors had been installed so that the balconies remained functional. No word on VDOT's plans to widen I-81 and its impact on what remains of Harrisonburg's Howard Johnson's turned Rockingham Hall.

Special thanks to all who contributed photos and info and especially to Ben Schumin who was able to have full access to the remains.

Above: Just beyond where the Gate Lodge had been, students had set up a volleyball court.
 
 
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