Opened in the Summer of 1968, the 72 guest room classically configured
Lynchburg Motor Lodge and Restaurant complex coexisted with a
nearby stand-alone Restaurant until at least the mid
1980s.
Above:
Many people wrongly believe that the logo without the apostrophe
's' was devised after the Howard Johnson Company was dissolved,
rather the international design consulting firm of Landor
Associates and Howard Johnson's director of graphics design
developed the simplified logo after reviewing 75 designs over
a six month period. Records indicate the new logo/identity and
signage with "rounded" sides was formerly introduced
in February of 1985, but the first sign was not erected until
May 24, 1985. Oddly,
Landor does not include the Howard Johnson Company in its historical
online timeline of clients. Perhaps dropping the apostrophe 's,'
art deco font, and minimizing the Orange Roof can be viewed in
retrospect as blunders by both the iconic Landor organization
and the waning Howard Johnson Company.
