Wausau

Photographs May 2006: Courtesy of Phil Edwards

Wausau, Wisconsin

--2101 ( 2001) N Mountain Rd

Initially opened in the summer 1973, Wausau was a traditionally configured Motor Lodge and Restaurant complex designed to serve highway travellers. However the site featured several architectural differences. Even as its 2-story guest buildings were arranged in a familiar pattern, they had a flat roofs, and one building had an odd roof-level change on one end resulting in a higher ceiling for two guest rooms on the second level. Moreover it is believed that the site never featured a Mansard lobby (it did have a Mansard Restaurant), but instead only ever had the one pictured below.

Right: Note the recycled HoJo's towering highway sign--the top dates from 1985 to 1993, but the lower portion was erected in 1973 when the property was built.

Lasting twenty years as a Howard Johnson's, the Wausau Motor Lodge operated as the Park Inn and then later as the Wausau Inn and Conference Center. Remarkably well-kept and offering a unique domed indoor swimming pool for its guests, the Motor Lodge was repatriated into the Howard Johnson fold during 2006!

Note that the guest buildings featured the "pebble" treatment rather than brick or concrete block--much in the same manner as several other Badger State locations.

Below: Guest building with the odd roof level change showing "pebble" treatment and original exterior orange room number indicators.

As early as 1988 , the Mansard-type Restaurant was operating as Charlie K's Restaurant and Parlor Car Lounge. Eventually it was converted into Emma Krumbees (link to hotel's website) Restaurant and Bakery. A fledgling chain Emma Krumbees, is based in neighbouring Minnesota.