Hiway Host Motel

The Hiway Host Motel, built in 1954 as the Holiday Inn-Bessemer, is an 80-room motel located at 4301 Bessemer Super Highway (U.S. Highway 11) between Bessemer and Birmingham..

The hotel was developed by Richard Hall Brown of the B-D Development Co., developers of the Broadmoor subdivision. He obtained franchise rights from the 2-year-old Memphis, Tennessee-based chain in 1953. J. A. Batch of New York City was an investor in the venture. He selected an 850-foot by 350-foot site directly across from the Bessemer Coal, Iron & Land Co. office and Carl's Motel & Cafe. Brown commissioned the Real Estate Research Corp. to analyze its suitability before announcing construction in February 1954.

The analysts recommended a 100-room motel. As preliminary plans were developed, Brown decided to start with an 80-room complex with allowances for future expansion, noting that it would be the largest motel in the district and the only one of its kind in Alabama. The building was constructed by the H. N. Donahoo Contracting Co. Dixie Neon fabricated the motel's trademark sign.

Some of the units were 2- to 3-room suites and all were equipped with wall-to-wall carpeting, radio, television and background music. A special "bridal suite" was marketed to newlyweds. A sitter service was provided for children, as well as a kennel area for pets. A shuttle service operated between the motel and the associated Holiday Beach attraction with swimming, fishing, boating, picnic facilities and a dance pavilion.

The $500,000 air-conditioned motel featured an assembly room large enough for a 300-seat banquet or 400-person meeting, a swimming pool, a playground, and indoor and outdoor recreation areas with board games, shuffleboard, tennis, badminton, carpet golf and croquet. The motel also housed a gift and candy shop, a barber shop, a drug store and a 24-hour service station.

A formal open house prior to opening was held on Wednesday–Friday November 2–4, 1954, accompanied by a special display of the 1955 Chrysler automobile line-up coordinated by area dealers. "Queen Bess" Carolyn Early served as official hostess. Wesley Barrett was trained in Memphis before assuming his duties as manager of the motel.

The motel restaurant was a second location of La Paree, operated by Michael Matsos, who sold the prior location on 5th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham to chef and partner Bill Demoes. Matsos later changed the name to Michael's.

The motel was damaged by fire in 1972.

References

• "Swank motel to be built between city, Bessemer." (February 16, 1954) The Birmingham News, p. 1
• "Holiday Inn makes its formal bow with three-day open house." (November 16, 1954) The Birmingham News, p. 24