In early 1956 Holiday Inn was just beginning to take over as the dominant motel chain. The first Holiday Inn Hotel Courts location opened by Kemmons Wilson at 4941 Summer Ave. in Memphis, Tennessee in the summer of 1952.
At Memphis, Tenn. City Limits East
120 Rooms & Baths – 100 % Air-Conditioned
Restaurant in Connection
Mailed from Memphis, Tennessee to Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Szukala of Alden, New York on December 6, 1952:
Dear Children,
Well I expect you are at the Doctors now, as it is Friday eve. This place is the nicest we have had, all new. I wish you could see it.
Within two years three more locations would open in Memphis and a few locations across several states.
By the end of the decade Holiday Inn and their glorious Great Sign would come to dominate the American roadside landscape.
This directory, printed for 1956, shows the chain in its relative infancy. I took the directory and distill it into a few different parts. The first image is the directory entry, the second is a postcard image of the site and the final piece is a view of the location now.
Some of the information was rather difficult to find. I did the best I could to find accurate information on these locations. If I missed something or got something wrong please let me know.
AUBURN, ALABAMA
U.S. 280 at Junction State 147, on Florida Short Route 3 1/2 miles north of Auburn, a beautiful college town. Restaurant, television in every room, air-conditioned, swimming pool, telephones in rooms.
Status:
Lyman L. Pittman, Innkeeper
Located at the Intersection of U.S. 280 and Ala. 147
Opened: March 1, 1956
Closed: Sometime after 1980
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
US 11 South, Birmingham’s only resort hotel. Near ball park, stadium, fairgrounds. Guest privileges Holiday Beach. Complete convention, sales meeting, exhibit facilities. “Restaurant of Distinction,” drug store, barber, playground, kennel, lawns, service station.
BIRMINGHAM
Louis P. Woods, Innkeeper
U.S. 11, South Third Avenue
Opened: November 15, 1954
Part of the building is still standing. The back row of rooms has been long since torn down, the pool filled in and the restaurant building is no more. However, if you look at the satellite image you can see the footprint of the old Holiday Inn. A dive motel known as the Hiway Host currently occupies what is still standing.
PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS
In US 65 at Junction with City Route 65. Swimming pool, restaurant, convention facilities, all beds king-size, tile shower and tub combination, room phones, TV, year-round central air conditioning with individual controls, Baby sitters; kennels.
Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Biggers, Innkeepers
U.S. 65 at City Route 65
Opened: March 1, 1956
Much of the HI shell still stands. The back rows and part of the front motel building are gone. It is currently Classic Inn.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
On US 85-87 (Denver Highway) at 5700 North Nevada, two miles north of the city. 104 luxurious rooms and suites, all air-conditioned and heated. Swimming pool. All rooms have television, radio and telephones.
Opened: October 1, 1955
This one is tricky. I cannot find any trace of what happened to the building. It appears to be long gone.
UPDATE: Thanks to KoHoSo for bringing to my attention that I have a card in my collection that shows what happened to this location after if ceased to be a Holiday Inn.
5700 N. Nevada Avenue on Denver Highway 85-87
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Phone: Melrose 3-3876 Teletype CU-8436
104 Air-conditioned rooms, all with radio, television, 24-hour telephone service. Swimming Pool. Sirloin Room, Coffee Shop. No charge for children under 12
After hotelier Albert Pick split from the Holiday Inn chains, he rebranded the property under his name. You can see in the postcard above that it is definitely a Holiday Inn layout.
There is nothing left of this location.
Thanks, KoHoSo
GREAT BEND, KANSAS
On US 50-N in West end of Great Bend (at 5220 West 10th). Large meeting and banquet room, restaurant with small private dining rooms. Barber and beauty shop; service station; swimming pool. Individual heating and air conditioning; telephones.
Opened: May 18, 1956 (a month later than advertised)
Attached to Alexander’s Cafe
This located ceased to be a Holiday Inn a while back, but the building is entirely intact. The former restaurant appears to be the office for a storage facility that erected sometime in the 1990s.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
On US 59 at junction with State 10 (23rd St.) in southwest part of city. Excellent restaurant; 52 air-conditioned rooms with free TV. Holiday Room (capacity 100); spacious lobby; service station; complete hotel service. All new, all the best.
Allan E. Hall, Innkeeper
U.S. 59 at Kansas 10
23rd and Iowa Streets
Opened: September 1956
This location was torn sometime after 1991. A Days Inn now stands on the site.
SALINA, KANSAS
On US 81 (S. Brodway at Armory Rd., 1 1/2 mi. south of US 40. Swimming pool, terrace, play area. Near Smoky Hill SAC air base and Kanapolis Lake (Federal park project). Complete automotive service. Teletype connection with other Holiday Inns.
Paul Bryant, Innkeeper
U.S. 81 – Broadway at Armory Rd.
Opened: September 21-23, 1956
Amazingly, the majority of the former HI is still standing. Not sure when it ceased to be a Holiday Inn, but the Village Inn sign looks like a post-great sign addition, so it may have lasted into the 80s or longer.
TOPEKA, KANSAS
On US 24 about 600 ft. west of cloverleaf junction with US 75 at north edge of city. Fine restaurant; Holiday Room (capacity 100); heated swimming pool. Free TV in each of the 52 air-conditioned rooms. Spacious lobby; full hotel service. All new!
Mrs. Grace Friend, Innkeeper
Junction Highway 24 and 75 West
Opened: August 1956
This one is also a bit tricky. Based on the location and the fact there was definitely something with an entrance on this spot, it very could have been here. No matter how you look at it, this location closed a while ago.
WICHITA, KANSAS
US 54, East (7411 East Kellogg) just a few minutes drive from downtown and from McConnell Air Base, Boeing, Beech and Cessna plants. Glass-enclosed heated swimming pool. Excellent coffee shop; gift shop. AAA approved.
Gary F. Thomas, Innkeeper
East 54 Highway
7411 East Kellogg
OPENED: December 1954
The building was torn down quite a while ago and nothing remains of the old site.
ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA
US 71, 165, 167 at State 1 (north end McArthur Drive at circle). Easy access to England Air Force Base and downtown. Fifty miles from Fort Polk. Swimming pool.
James P. O’Neal, Innkeeper
U.S. 71, 165 and 167 By-Pass North on State
Highway 1 – McArthur Drive
Opened: May 1955
I had a little bit of trouble finding this one. The only specific address(es) I could find said McArthur Rd. at circle. it was probably in this general area.
CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI
US 61 North, inside city limits. In the heart of the Delta cotton country, 75 miles south of Memphis. A Holcomb Hotel with Admiral Benbow Inn Restaurant, specializing in seafood. Swimming pool, gift shop, sample rooms, Holiday Room for meetings.
Enjoy excellent food, in an atmosphere of comfort and convenience. Year-’round air-conditioning with individual controls, swimming pool, TV, advance reservation by Teletype. 24-hour telephone service.
Paul R. Harrington, Innkeeper
U.S. 61, North
1901 State Street
OPENED: August 8, 1954
The Clarksdale Holiday Inn was the 5th Holiday Inn to open and the first one outside of Memphis. Hotelier Albert Pick franchised this location as part of his growing empire of hotels and motels.
Most of the building is still standing. One of the rows has been torn down, but the covered entrance and restaurant building still stand.
GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI
One mile west of downtown Greenwood on US 82 and US 49-E bypasses. 100% air-conditioned and steam heated. Phone in every room, TV. Beautiful dining room, convention facilities. Everything for family groups and commercial travelers.
Teletype: Greenwood, Miss. 166 – Telephone: 4472
Enjoy excellent food, comfort and convenience, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Every room has TV and individually controlled air conditioning. Large lobby, 24-hour service, one rate, no extras.
“The fine old innkeeping tradition in a modern setting.”
R.E. Simmons, Innkeeper
Highway 82 and 49, East By-Pass
1900 Strong Avenue
Opened: March 8, 1955 (Grand opening April 1, 1955)
I believe this is still the same building. I don’t have a picture of the old one, so I can’t totally be sure.
HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI
US 11 and 49 South (900 Broadway Drive) just off the Clover Leaf. Swimming pool, restaurant, room phones, convention facilities. Wall to wall carpet, TV, tile baths with tub and shower combination, year-round air conditioning with individual controls. Baby sitters; kennels.
900 Broadway Drive
Swimming Pool – Air-Conditioned – Restaurant – TV and Telephone in every room.
Charles Wynn, Innkeeper
U.S. 11, South and 49 at Cloverlead
900 Broadway Drive
OPENED: April 1, 1955
Over the past few years this location has gone through a number of changes.
This aerial view shows what once was the restaurant building and the outline of the pool.
A little while later you can see the restaurant and pool have been torn down.
This more recent street view shows the property has been cleaned up a little and grass is growing where people one swan and ate under the glow of the Great Sign.
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI
US 90 on the Gulf, 6 mi. west of Gulfport, 1 1/2 hrs. east of New Orleans. Stable with ten horses, trail rides, lessons for children. Deep-sea fishing. “The Pub,” Lounge, 1500-ft pier for Gulf Fishing. Year-round swimming pool. Fine golf facilities.
L. Victor Philippi
U.S. 90 – 6 Mi. W. of Gulfport
OPENED- July 1, 1955
I am not going to lie to you – this one has had me stumped. If you’ll notice in the brochure, this Holiday Inn has a completely different sign than the rest of them. Information is hard to come by.
I believe this may have been the location. Most of the waterfront in Long Beach was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI
Located within city limits at US highway 61-84 by-pass south. 52 air-conditioned rooms, all with radio, television and telephones. Beautiful swimming pool; delicious dining in moderate priced Coffee Shop.
U.S. Highway 61 North
Ph. 2-3686 – AC: 601 – T.W.X. NHZ 266
Restaurant – Swimming Pool – Free TV
Free Advance TWX Reservations
OPENED: June 1, 1955
This one did not last long in the Holiday Inn chain. The location is no longer listed in the 1959 Fall directory. It looks like a series of motels occupied the building and lasted for about 50 years.
The building is gone now, having been torn down in the late 1990s. However, on the 1996 satellite photo of Natchez, I believe you can see the original structure.
Here’s the same location as of 2015
WEST POINT, MISSISSIPPI
Junction US 45-W and Miss. 10 on shortest and best route from Great Lakes area to Gulf, Florida and Southwest. Near Natchez Trace and Columbus USAF Base. Swimming pool; playground and park in connection. Fishing and gold nearby. Fine food.
James R. Keenan, Innkeeper
U.S. 45 West and Miss. 10
OPENED: July 1, 1956
Another tricky location. I cannot find an image of the overall shape and design of this location. The address is fairly vague, too. I was able to find a couple of motels on Google Earth from 2006 that may or may not be this location.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
James A. Spears, Innkeeper
U.S. 40 at Noland Road
13900 East U.S. Hwy. 40
OPENED: November 14, 1954
This was the seventh location to spring up. It was torn down years ago in the name of the name of commerce.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
4543 North Lindbergh Blvd. at Long Road
Telephone: HA 8-8900
Swimming Pool – Air-conditioned – Restaurant – Free TV – Free Teletype Reservations
William Costello, Innkeeper
By-Pass 66 and 67
OPENED: July 1, 1956
One of the largest locations in the early years with 5 motel buildings and a restaurant. The court was modified in the 70s or 80s and now very little remains of the St. Louis location.
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
NW corner US 29 north and 16th St. inside city limits – 2 1/2 miles from center of city. Featuring 150-seat restaurant, free television, telephones in all rooms, Honeymoon suite.
90 Rooms and Baths – 150-Seat Restaurant – Banquet Facilities – Sales, Sample Room – Bridal Suite – Television, Telephones – Wall-to-Wall Carpets – Tom Kellam, Innkeeper – Phone: BR. 5-5371
Tom Kellam, Innkeeper
U.S. 29 North at 16th Street
OPENED: November 15, 1955
This is one of the most complete locations left. The front building/restaurant is gone but the other two buildings are still standing.
CANTON, OHIO
South side of US 30 in downtown Canton, Ohio, the last major city you pass through en route to New York City for a comfortable one-day drive via the turnpike. Conference and salesmen’s sample rooms available.
C.L. Maier, Innkeeper
U.S. 30 Downtown
800 W. Tuscarawas
OPENED: July 1, 1956
This is another location that remains fairly intact. The pool is gone, but you can see the outline to the right of the building.
TOLEDO, OHIO
Stony Ridge Interchange of the Ohio Turnpike and Ohio Route 120 (Detroit-Toledo Expressway). 18 minutes SE from center of Toledo – 1 hr. from Detroit. In the heart of industrial Ohio and Michigan. Completely new…entirely superior.
Indoor Pool – Cocktail Lounge Restaurant
Sauna Baths
Phone: Stoney Ridge Ohio TE 7-2045
Paul Richards, Innkeeper
Route 120 at No. 5 Interchange of Ohio Turnpike
OPENED: June 1, 1956
This location is mostly standing as well. The pool has been filled in and the current motel looks like it might be in rough shape.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
12001 Northeast Urban Expressway on US 66 and 77, one mile west of Turner Turnpike toll gate. Only a few minutes to any place in Oklahoma City. Spacious living combines downtown hotel features with resort hotel luxuries at rates all can afford.
Holiday Inn Hotel
12001 Northeast Urban Expressway
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
One Mile West of the Turner Turnpike On U.S. Highways 66 and 77
Cliff Potts, Innkeeper
U.S. 66 and 77 Northeast
12001 Northeast Urban Expressway
OPENED: December 1954
No clue. I cannot find this location. The street address does not exist anymore and the other directions are pretty vague. Leave a comment if you have an idea or know where it was located.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
On US 17 (Ocean Highway) 2 1/2 miles south of Old Historic Charleston. Restaurant, television, swimming pool, 20 minutes drive to world-famous gardens. Fine golf courses, drive-in theater, ocean beaches, Fort Sumter National Monument nearby.
On U.S. Ocean Highway 17
Telephone: SOuth 6-1651 – Teletype CS 286
Kirk Nabors, Innkeeper
U.S. Ocean Highway 17S.
OPENED: February 19, 1955
Another location that I cannot find anywhere on the map. There is no street address and US 17 goes on for miles and miles. I assume it’s gone.
JACKSON, TENNESSEE
US 45 North – on the road to Florida. Near Country Club. Swimming pool, year-round air conditioning, restaurant, convention facilities. Service station, television, wall to wall carpeting, telephone in every room. Plenty of parking space.
W.M. Berfield, Innkeeper
U.S. 45 North
OPENED: Spring 1955
This one was also difficult to find. I believe that this aerial view shows where the HI once stood. It’s the empty lot on the left side.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (DOWNTOWN)
US 61 South (980 S. 3rd St.) two minutes from center of downtown. Convention facilities for 400 persons. Swimming pool, sample rooms, radio station, shopping center adjoining lobby. Limousine stop for all airlines. 172 rooms.
U.S. 61 – 980 South Third
Air-Conditioned – Swimming Pool – Restaurant – In the City’s Business District
Jack Scheibler, Innkeeper
U.S. 61 at 64, 70 and 79 Downtown
980 S. Third Street
OPENED: November 1, 1953
This was the third Holiday Inn to be built. The building still stands but has been heavily modified to become a Traffic Signal Maintenance & Construction supply for the city of Memphis.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (EAST)
US 70-79-64 (4941 Summer Ave.) in east Memphis. In the heart of Memphis’ finest residential area, 20 minutes from downtown, within 5 minutes of best golf courses and clubs. Swimming pool, dining room, gift shop. 120 rooms.
Memphis, Tennessee
Phone: 34-6687
3 Other Locations in Memphis:
U.S. 61 South – U.S. 51 North – U.S. 51 South
450 Rooms – 450 Baths – 100% Air-Conditioned – Steam Heat – Pleasure Eating – Bridal Suite – Free Swimming Pool for Guests Only
Walker Gray, Innkeeper
U.S. 64, 70 and 79
4941 East Summer Ave.
OPENED: August 1, 1952
This is the original Holiday Inn. It opened in the Summer of 1952. The ribbon was cut by the five children of Kemmons and Dorothy Wilson.
The location stated with 120 rooms and expanded to 450 rooms a few years later. The location was so successful that the Holiday Inn headquarters were located on Summer Ave. nearby.
This location was sold in 1973 and demolished in 1994. An historical marker is located on the site.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (NORTH)
US 51 North (4022 US 51 N.) at city limits. 20 min. from downtown. Nearest to Firestone, Bruce, Humko, Kimberly-Clark, US Rubber, Int’l Harvester, duPont, Grace Chemical, and largest US Naval air training center. Dining room, swimming pool. 120 rooms
Phone: 56691
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
3 Other Locations in Memphis:
U.S. 70, 79 & 64 East
U.S. 61 South – U.S. 51 South
450 Rooms – 450 Baths – 100% Air-Conditioned – Steam Heat – Pleasure Eating – Limited Free Sample Rooms Upon Request
Mrs. Kate McDonald, Innkeeper
U.S. 51 North
4022 Thomas St.
OPENED: Winter 1953
The fourth of the original four Holiday Inns. The building still stood as of the 1997 aerial view (the red dot and three long buildings).
There is nothing currently at that location.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (SOUTH)
US 51 South (2300 S. Bellevue). Ten minutes from Memphis airport. Limousine stop for all airlines. Twenty minutes from downtown. Playground with electric merry-go-round for children. Swimming pool, dining room, 76 rooms.
Memphis, Tennessee
Phone WH 8-1522
3 Other Locations in Memphis
U.S. Highway 70, 79 & 64 East
U.S. Hwy. 61 South – U.S. Hwy. 51 North
450 Rooms – 450 Baths – 100% Air-Conditioned – Steam Heat – Pleasure Eating – Limited Free Sample Rooms Upon Request
Valley Hull, Innkeeper
U.S. 51 South
2300 S. Bellevue Ave.
Opened: Spring 1953
The second Holiday Inn Hotel Court to open in Memphis was located on S. Bellevue Blvd. The sprawling complex contained 450 rooms and a restaurant. The location lasted a little while, but changing neighborhoods and tastes, even in the Holiday Inn brand, caused this location to fall out of the chain.
You can see by the aerial view that many of the buildings are still standing.
AMARILLO, TEXAS
US 60 & 66 (1411 NE 8th) in north Amarillo. Individually controlled year-round centrail air-conditioning. King-size Gyramatic mattresses, room phones, radios, TV. Heated swimming pool. Kiddie Korral. Easy access to downtown.
Bill Currens, Innkeeper
U.S. 60, 66
1411 N.E. 8th Street
Opened: October 31, 1954
The Amarillo location, built at the same time as the Independence/St. Louis location, opened on Halloween day 1954. It was officially the 6th location in the chain (behind four locations in Memphis and the one in Clarksdale, MS.
This is the 1991 aerial view on Google Earth. You can see the shell of the early Holiday Inns. The building would be torn down before the next aerial photo was taken in 1995.
This is the site now.
PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA
US 13 (Military Hwy) just east of junction with us 17, Norfolk county, Va. 10 minutes to downtown Norfolk or Portsmouth. Convenient to Azalea Gardens, historic houses, shopping center. Golf privileges. World’s largest naval base, shipyard nearby.
W. Ken Howard, Innkeeper
U.S. Highway 13 and 460
438 W. Ocean Drive
Opened: January 15, 1956
Not sure which one of these locations was the HI. I believe it may have been the one on the far right of the aerial view below.
The Alexandria, LA current map is incorrect. That’s the South Traffic Circle. Parts of the old hotel (barely) still stand near MacArthur and LA1 North, on the southwest corner of that interchange. It’s not there for long, though.
Here’s the spot: https://goo.gl/maps/r4sbxx7jcTs
You can see the tile floors from the bathrooms in that typical horse shoe configuration.
I worked at the Holiday Inn in billings Montana for thirteen years. Was the largest hotel for three surrounding states. Great memories but became run down n delapatated, sadly. Changed to a Raddison and then a Red lion before the owners,Inner Circle, went bankrupt n closed down. It has reopened as a Trailhead Inn but I’ve looked at the reviews and nope. Love what you’ve done here very cool to look over and learn more about the good old Holiday Inns around the country!
Natchez was sold to Albert Pick. Clarksdale was not, it was franchised by Billy Holcomb. The first managers/equity partners for Hattiesburg were Frank and Wilna (not Wilma) Shaw. Long Beach was an existing location franchised by W.D. Jemison who was also 1/3 owner of the Montgomery, AL HI.
Was 1956 the first directory
The Colorado Springs location was on 5700 North Nevada the building has been completely torn down. Last motel that was there was a Travel Lodge. The restaurant was still called the Holiday Inn Restaurant up to 1961 it turned to a Albert Pick Motel sometime in 1958
When was the Wichita Kansas location torn down I was there two years ago it was a Days Inn the was something else about a year ago
Was 1956 the first directory put out give me an answer
You never answered my question was the 1956 direcrory the first one
the oklahoma city location is 12001 ne I-35 service rd now. at least 2 and possibly 3 of the buildings still stand. 2 of them are an america best value inn now. the 3rd is a super 8 but not sure if that is part of the original set. if you go back to 2002 picture on google earth, i think what was the sirloin room is still standing out front but it is gone now.
Thank you for this trip down memory lane!
Thanks so much! Jakle’s book The Motel in America is one of my favorites. My family owned a motel when I was a kid in Grand Junction CO and we had a Holiday Inn there on I-70. I am a geographer – thanks for the extensive research! Yes, that location on N Nevada in Colorado Springs has massively transformed.
“Your Host from Coast to Coast” was still an aspiration in 1956, with no locations to the northeast of Ohio/Virginia or anywhere near the West Coast. Still, given the rapid growth, I wonder how long it was before they needed to issue a new directory with multiple added locations.
As a geographer I love this. ! Thank you. We had one in grand Junction Colorado of the old style that was turned into a clarion inn in the 1990s.
The satellite photo of the Jackson, TN location is incorrect. That motel was the Lakeview motel in what would’ve been considered Bemis, TN at the time and is currently considered and may have been at the time US-45 S.