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Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant Fond du Lac Wisconsin
Photos July 2005: Courtesy of Bob Venditti
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
 -- 1325 S Main St
 

The Fond du Lac Howard Johnson's opened in the spring of 1972, and the 8+ acre $1.6 million development was the largest commercial project undertaken in the area during 1971. Requiring contentious zoning changes, it was planned and built in the cost-saving Mansard lobby and Restaurant design, and included an integrated Texaco service station.

Left: The top part of its street sign was chopped off leaving just the bottom which had been recycled to advertise the property as a Villager Lodge.

Below: Note the decorative "pebble" treatment to the end walls and room exteriors of the guest buildings, for it was an acceptable alternative in HoJo's architectural guidelines for franchisees.
 
 
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant Fond du Lac Wisconsin
 
 
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant Fond du Lac Wisconsin
 
 
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant Fond du Lac Wisconsin
 
 
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant Fond du Lac Wisconsin
Photographs May 2006: Courtesy of Phil Edwards
 
 
 
 
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant Fond du Lac Wisconsin
 
 

Lasting for only a little more than a decade, Fon du Lac never lived up to economic expectations and lost the Howard Johnson's name in the early 1980s. It was subsequently unbranded and called the Travelers Inn, and at some point its Restaurant operated as Haven Restaurant and Lounge. Based on modifications to the HoJo's Mansard facade (a gabled roof), the steakhouse likely had a Scandinavian theme. In 2000 the property was sold by Dairyland Investments to Safe Harbour Corp., and the former HJ became branded again--as a Villager Lodge.

Unfortunately business did not prove sufficient to generate cash flow for the new owner which defaulted on his mortgage. Having begun a steady state of decline during April of 2003 the facility was deemed uninhabitable by the city and about 30 long-term residents were evicted with only a 24-hour notice.
Ad 1-29-72: Fond du Lac Reporter
 
 
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant Fond du Lac Wisconsin
 
 
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant Fond du Lac Wisconsin
 
 
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