Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge and Restaurant located at 127 Howard Johnson Dr. in Rolla,MO. The motor lodge which was dubbed a "Concept 68" design was built with a number of unique features and amenities. The most notable of these amenities was the connected "indoor to outdoor" pool. The property which opened in 1968 remained a Howard Johnson's until 2003. The Howard Johnson name was replaced with the low budget Best Value Inn brand. Not even able to carry that brand the property which had fallen into great disrepair was rebranded as the Rolla Motel. Forward to December 2015 and the motel is sitting abandoned and awaiting an inevitable demolition. The restaurant is currently occupied by an independently owned mexican restaurant operating under the name Los Cazadores. The manager of the restaurant was not very happy with me taking photos but I didnt hesitate. On my second visit to the property a police officer came to the scene likely called upon by the same manager who waited outside the restaurant until the police cruiser drove down towards me. The police officer asked what I was doing and I stated my interest in the Howard Johnson's chain and this site was appealing to me and that I wanted to take photos. The policeman without any hesitation gave me approval to "take all the photos I wanted" and after a quick chat about the property which he described as being "well maintained" up until the Howard Johnson name was dropped. He continued on to say that in its final years of operation the motel was a "rat hole" and a place where "drugs and prostitution were the norm".
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