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Location DB > United States > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac > The Villager Hotel
 Name
The Villager Hotel
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Anonymous on 8/31/2006 12:23 AM
last modified by Anonymous on 1/11/2024 7:23 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
There is a restaurant, lounge, lobby, kitchen, pool, a few maintenance rooms, and many rooms.
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: worth the trip
 Physical Information
Address
1325 South Main Street
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
United States
Owner:
 Hazards
  • water
  • The lobby’s / restaurant’s structure is unstable
  •  Interesting Features
    Everything.
     Security Measures
     Historical Dates
    Built: 1972
    Closed: 2003
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    The Fond du Lac Howard Johnson's opened in the Spring of 1972 and complimented the long-lived Motor Lodge and restaurant complex that operated to its north in Oshkosh. Planned and built in the cost-saving mansard lobby and restaurant design, the facility was built just prior to the first of the oil shocks that curtailed HoJo's expansion in the middle 1970s. Lasting for only a little more than a decade, Fond du Lac never lived up to economic expectations and lost the Howard Johnson's name in the early 1980s. It was subsequently unbranded and called the Travelers Inn, and at some point its Restaurant operated as Haven Restaurant and Lounge - based on modifications to the HoJo's Mansard facade the steakhouse possibly had a Scandinavian theme. In 2000 the property was sold by Dairyland Investments to Safe Harbour Corp., and the former HJ became branded again - as a Villager Lodge. Unfortunately business did not prove sufficient to generate cash flow for the new owner which defaulted on its mortgage. In April of 2003 the facility was deemed uninhabitable by the city and about 30 long-term residents were evicted with only a 24-hour notice. Having been abandoned since 2003, the location was still remarkably intact when Bob Venditti stopped to take a look in the summer of 2005. He said that it was like "The Twilight Zone. A nicely creepy place..."

    A 2005 newspaper report indicated that the property, while in receivership, had been sold to an unnamed developer. City officials commented that parts of the building had deteriorated significantly, but that the guest room sections were still structurally sound. Speculation by officials indicated that the five plus acre site would likely be redeveloped as big box retail space.

    Demolition started early in June 2007.
     Media Coverage
    -----Links below this line were broken or dead on 1.11.2024-----

    Updated11/27: http://fdlreporter...101/611270335/1985
    http://fdlreporter...101/611270337/1985
    http://orangeroof....ac/fonddulac1.html
    http://www.operati...ion_try_foiled.htm
     Future Plans
    It's gone. A real-estate business has been erected in its place.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Visit 1
    Thu, Aug 31st, 2006
    posted by Anonymous
    10 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Visit 2
    Thu, Aug 31st, 2006
    posted by Anonymous
    10 pictures


    Add your own photos

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     Web Links

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    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 1/11/2024 7:24 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Jan 11 24 at 19:24, Anonymous validated this location
  • on Jan 11 24 at 19:23, Anonymous changed the following: History, Hazards, Interesting Features, Future Plans
  • on Jan 11 24 at 14:22, Anonymous changed the following: Media Coverage
  • on Jul 14 08 at 21:12, Anonymous validated this location
  • on Jul 14 08 at 19:57, Anonymous changed the following: Status, Security Measures, Future Plans
  • on Mar 30 08 at 0:01, Anonymous validated this location
  • on Mar 21 08 at 18:04, Anonymous changed the following: Web Links
  • on Aug 18 07 at 19:15, Anonymous validated this location
  • on Aug 17 07 at 23:07, Anonymous updated gallery Visit 2
  • on Aug 17 07 at 23:07, Anonymous updated gallery Visit 2
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