Photographs circa 1980s: Courtesy of Bob Venditti
 

Winchester, Virginia -- 1601 (1509) Martinsburg Pike (US 11 @ I-81)
 
With its Restaurant and Lobby built in the Mansard style, Winchester opened in 1974 with all the standard traditional features that Howard Johnson's was famous for. Having become the first Howard Johnson's along I-81 from the north after it was built, the complex offered a 24-hour restaurant and 84 guest rooms.
 
 
 
 
 
Photograph August 2002
 
 
Photographs courtesy of Phil Edwards
 
 
 
 

Lasting under the Orange Roof only until 1988, it was subsequently converted into a Days Inn, Ramada Inn, and then a Comfort Inn. Along the way the guest buildings lost their sliders and a new canopy was added in front of the Mansard lobby.

Above: Note that upon Phil's second visit, new signage had been erected--with "Comfort Inn" going from yellow to blue.

Left: Only the base of Winchester's street sign was recycled by its subsequent occupants.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Attesting to its key location, the Restaurant continued to operate as a successful Denny's unit into the late 2000s. Note that portions of the original Mansard could be observed behind the Denny's facade.