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At one time Holiday Inn of America franchised three buildings in Sunny Isles located at 195th, 180th, and 174th Streets and Collins Avenue. Holiday Inn’s “Great Sign” became an easily identifiable roadside symbol associated with friendly hospitality and service.
19505 Collins Avenue
Holiday Inn at 19505 Collins Avenue.
The building that housed the Holiday Inn at 19505 Collins Avenue was built in 1957 and exemplified the various geometric design elements of the buildings on Motel Row. A 1970s Holiday Inn brochure advertised this location as “a short distance from most major (horse racing) tracks in the Miami area.”
18001 Collins Avenue
The Mercury Motel at 18001 Collins Avenue became a Holiday Inn.
The Holiday Inn at 18001 Collins Avenue was originally the Mercury Motel. Built in 1956 this unique building was an interesting example of Miami Modern (MIMO) architecture with forceful intersecting vertical and horizontal shapes.
Hotelier Mr. Harold Gruder said, “I purchased the Mercury from Mr. Ben Gains in 1956.” According to Mr. Gruder, he and his son, Bob, operated the Mercury along with other motels they owned in Sunny Isles – the Heathwood and Monaco Resort. The Mercury Motel was eventually sold and became a Holiday Inn. A 1970s brochure lists this location as “the largest of Miami’s three Holiday Inns.”
This wall in the lobby of the Holiday Inn at 180 Street is
embellished with crab orchid stone and a maritime sculpture.
In 1976 this Holiday Inn built a patio and semi-formal dinning area maintaining the tropical laid-back atmosphere for the beach, pool, patio, and sunbathers. This building was demolished in 2001.
17451 Collins Avenue
Glass View-port of Pool at the Holiday Inn, 17451 Collins Avenue.
The Holiday Inn at 17451 Collins Avenue was built in 1953. It featured a unique crystal pool with large glass view ports through which lower-level spectators could watch swimmers, and take fantastic pictures.
The main lobby in the Holiday Inn at 174 Street.
EXTRA CONVENIENCES
A 1970s Holiday Inn brochure for the three locations in Sunny Isles advertised “The Usual Extra Conveniences” such as: Camera Club (Film developing service), Coffee Host Service, Free Kennels, Wall to Wall Carpeting (except locations where sand collection makes it impractical), House Physicians, Children under age twelve stay free with Parents, Private Balconies, Swimming Pool, Exciting Horse Racing Nearby, Appetizing Food Served, Relaxing Cocktail Lounge, and Recreation Area.
Similar Events 1956 and 1976
- 1956 - Entertainers Jerry Lewis and Dean Martian perform their last comedy show together.
- 1976 - Entertainers Sonny and Cher variety show airs on television.
- 1956 - The Summer Olympic Games are held in Melbourne Australia.
- 1976 - The Summer Olympic Games are held in Montreal Quebec Canada.
- 1956 - The science fiction film Forbidden Planet is eagerly shown to audiences.
- 1976 - Viking 1 lands on the surface of Planet Mars and sends back the first photographic images on the planet.
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By David Udoff
If you have any stories or
photographs to share about the Sunny Isles Beach area call City Hall
at (305) 974-0606.
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