Mr. "Patel" has SOMETHING to Hide?
After I-95 was realigned bypassing Fayetteville's motel row along U.S. 301, the fortunes of the former Horne's as well as many of the area's other motels faltered. At least for the old Horne's, it was rehabilitated in 2000 as a stuccofied and inauthentic Cendant era Howard Johnson. Although somewhat gaudy with its tacked on embellishments, the property remained remarkably recognizable as a former Horne's. Obviously a "budget" or low-end lodging facility, the property with its location well away from I-95 no longer attracts main stream highway travelers. Note the 2007 marquee advertising weekly specials and that truckers were welcome.

In October of 2007 and with usual enthusiasm I was excited to detour and quickly photograph the site with hopes of speaking to the owner or manager. After snapping a couple of shots from the public right-of-way, I entered the lobby to say hello and pick up a brochure or advertising card. However guests were being checked in and the opportunity did not present itself to speak to an employee so I left. Realizing that to my back was a view similar to what had been shown in the property's circa 1960s brochure, I turned to frame the shot. Almost immediately two "Patels" lunged at me from the lobby screaming in broken and nearly incomprehensible English for me to stop. Never have I encountered such hostility while documenting America's roadside. One of the men said that he was the "owner," and that it was "big mistake for picture take." He was completely irrational and refused to listen to any word I attempted to utter. Not desiring a police escort of any sort from the now questionable neighborhood of the former Horne's, I made a hasty retreat. I cannot but wonder, what was there that the "Patels" didn't want me to see? What could it be? And why were they so fearful of little ol' me--with a camera? Who knows... But beware and steer clear of the inhospitable Fayetteville former Horne's turned Howard Johnson!