Former Howard Johnson's Restaurant located at 413 U.S. Route 7 in Bennington,VT. The restaurant which opened for business on June 16th 1961 has been sitting vacant since 2018. In December 1980 Howard Johnson's closed this location and leaving the building to sit vacant until Spring 1982 at which point the former restaurant was acquired by the Bennington Club. The local club served as a recreation center for its 100+ members (primarily senior citizens) who would meet for bingo, cribbage games, and dinner from a limited menu. The club kept the restaurant in pristine condition, however the dairy bar was removed in 1982 to accommodate a small dance floor. By the mid 2000's the club which had been experiencing a loss of members closed its doors. After sitting vacant for a couple of years the former Howard Johnson's restaurant was acquired by a local nature conservatory. The new occupant which operated under the name One World Conservation Center made significant alterations to the interior of the building. The most notable change was the removal of the original turquoise booths which had remained intact since 1961. The nature center operated until 2018 when finances became a burden forcing the closure of the facility. As of September 2022 the building which still retains its gleaming orange roof has continued to sit abandoned.
Note at the time of my visit to the property in July 2021 the foliage had been cut back, but the interior of the restaurant was in an increasingly notable state of disrepair.
Photo taken during my most recent visit in July 2021.
Former Howard Johnson's Restaurant located at 413 U.S. Route 7 in Bennington,VT. The restaurant which opened for business on June 16th 1961 has been sitting vacant since 2018. In December 1980 Howard Johnson's closed this location and leaving the building to sit vacant until Spring 1982 at which point the former restaurant was acquired by the Bennington Club. The local club served as a recreation center for its 100+ members (primarily senior citizens) who would meet for bingo, cribbage games, and dinner from a limited menu. The club kept the restaurant in pristine condition, however the dairy bar was removed in 1982 to accommodate a small dance floor. By the mid 2000's the club which had been experiencing a loss of members closed its doors. After sitting vacant for a couple of years the former Howard Johnson's restaurant was acquired by a local nature conservatory. The new occupant which operated under the name One World Conservation Center made significant alterations to the interior of the building. The most notable change was the removal of the original turquoise booths which had remained intact since 1961. The nature center operated until 2018 when finances became a burden forcing the closure of the facility. As of September 2022 the building which still retains its gleaming orange roof has continued to sit abandoned.
Note at the time of my visit to the property in July 2021 the foliage had been cut back, but the interior of the restaurant was in an increasingly notable state of disrepair.
*Photo taken in July 2010.