Holiday
Motel
|
The Holiday
Motel was opened in 1954 by Eugene Billerbeck. It was the
first two-story motel in Helena (three stories, counting the
basement parking area). Bennett Logan of Helena was general
contractor.
The attractive
sign beside 11th Avenue had rows of chasing lights on the
yellow arc, which would run up, over and down into the "Holiday",
ending in a colorful splash.
|
Holiday
Motel Painted to Match a '54 Ford Skyliner
From
Ford Times,
August 1955
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD
An
Early Postcard View of the Holiday Motel
Furnishings
of Tropical Design
Heywood-Wakefield
"Ashcraft"
| The Holiday
Motel was furnished in Heywood-Wakefield's faux-rattan "Ashcraft"
design. |
Jorgenson's
Holday Inn Restaurant
| Jorgenson's
Holiday Inn Restaurant opened in 1958. In 1964, an addition
was built on the south side, where the planters are in this
postcard view, for the Viking Room lounge. The restaurant is
still in business. |
Jorgenson's
Holday Inn Restaurant, ca. 1958
THE
WES & CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
Short-lived
Purchase by Sentry Motel Group, 1962
|
In 1962,
the Holday Motel was purchased from Gene Billerbeck by the
Sentry Motel Group, and plans were made for an expansion.
A new addition was built, but there were financial and legal
problems. In December of 1963, Gene Billerbeck and several
others bought back the motel.
The original
buildings of the Holiday Motel are gone, but the enterprise
lives on as Jorgenson's
Inn and Suites.
|
Jorgenson's
Restaurant and Viking Lounge, 1980s
THE
WES & CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
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back to HOTELS & MOTELS
|
