Howard Johnson’s began as a restaurant chain in the 1920s and expanded into a hotel chain in the 1950s. Throughout the 60s and 70s, it became one of the largest chains in the U.S.
In the late 80s, due to the fear that they were becoming outdated, HOJOs allowed franchised restaurants to operate separately from the hotel brand. This was the end of the end. By 2005, there were fewer than eight surviving restaurants. In March 2022, the last remaining Lake George restaurant permanently closed. All remaining motels - 139 locations - now operate under Wyndham.
HOJO Motor Lodges were known for their A-frame gate lodge, orange roof and blue spire. A lot of the original buildings still exist but most have been drastically renovated in the last 20 years. Many have been abandoned. Pictured are what these restaurants and motels looked like in the 1960s vs how they ended up in the 21st century.
