Before the Mouse - Part 2

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This issue marks the second installment of Before the Mouse, an essay of local tourist life before Disney and the interstate system. In this issue we largely focus on the motels and restaurants and other popular tourist stops that were along Highways 41, 98, 19 and Florida Highway 50, plus some other surprises.

Stories by Robert Martinez

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCkkV5x8r1w

1956 Florida Road Trip - Cool!

Click on the arrow and take a road trip back to 1956

During the very early days of local tourism, riverboat excursions were quite popular. This is the Sam Pyles riverboat (1892) cruising on the Withlacoochee River.

Sam Pyles Riverboat at the Panasoffkee landing circa 1889

Two favorite tourist stops for eats

Spencer's Tangerine Restaurant was located on Broad Street, downtown (1947), then moved to US 41 South in 1953 where Brooksville Dental Associates is today

The Cottage Dinette (1955), popular with tourists and teens for forty years (1953-1993) Pictured are Thomas Martin and Gay Burdin.

The final menu for the Cottage Dinette, one of Brooksville's most popular restaurants from 1953 to 1993, located on US 41 where the DQ is today. It was also a popular hangout for teens who enjoyed their jukebox during the 50s and 60s. People today still talk about the famous Bunny Burger. Also known for their fried chicken and homemade pies. Virtually everyone who lived in Brooksville during their 40-year run ate here.

Oaks Restaurant (1955) Elvis stopped here on his way from a concert in Tampa on his way to the Mississippi/Alabama State Fair in Tupelo, Mississippi

Long before franchises, it was little mom and pop restaurants like this one that fed hungry tourists. This was the Virginia Grill (about 1956) at the foot of the El Motel on Broad Street

The Crown Dinette (1952) was a popular tourist eatery since the early 1930s on US41, three miles north of Brooksville

Florida Welcome Center circa 1955-56

Motels and Hotels

Before the construction of I-75 in 1965 and other major highways later on, Brooksville tourists arrived via US 41, US 98 and Florida Highway 50, staying at the many local mom and pop motels. Most of these motels had no more than a dozen rooms, but were usually filled. There are still a few left.

Hernando Hotel (1885)

Hotel Tangerine Lobby (1926)

Shady Hill Camp (1929) mislabeled by photographer as Shady Brook Camp

Wayside Inn (1934) US 41 South

Dean's Cottages circa 1950

The Carol Ann Motel on Highway 50 East, built in 1955

The Oaks Motel seen here around 1954 on US 41 South

The El Motel was one of the more popular motels, originally built in 1954 between US 41, 98 and Florida 50. It was torn down in 1987 for the court house addition.

Spencer's Motel (1959) on US 41 South, built around 1953 located a bit south of where the truck route is today.

Weeki Wachee Motel Court (1953)

Brookwood Motel (1959)

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Motel Memories

Growing up in my parents motel business created some quaint memories along the way. Our family owned the El Motel in Brooksville for nearly 20 years (1957-1976). Here are a few classic motel memories.

The carnival worker who stayed all week long and when finally approached by my dad for payment, offered to pay him with a dog.

Country music icon Eddy Arnold would stay in Room 10 every spring as co-owner of the Nashville Vols, a Cincinnati Reds minor league team that had their spring training in Brooksville during 1956-1959. Eddy shared shots of Jack Daniels with my dad.

The man who tried to steal a TV during check-out hours and was wrestled out of his car by my dad and held in a choke hold until police arrived. Dr. Chan Springstead, the dentist across the street, saw it all from his office.

The drunk lady who crawled to her room from the Hilltop Lounge one night then slept on a bed of embers after falling asleep with a lit cigarette. The maid saw smoke oozing out from under the door and when it was opened, the hungover woman staggered out reeling, coughing and wheezing.

The big eyebrowed truss salesman who would check into Room 6 once a month with a big trunk after posting a weekend ad in the paper "Ruptured?"

The country family from West Virginia that sang and played guitars and banjos in our lobby.

Mr. Smadbeck, a rich New York developer who owned a lot of property on the west side near Weeki Wachee and drove up in a chauffer-driven Cadillac limousine every year.

Chico Hanshaw, local lad, now wearing very long hair as a member of a rock band from Memphis, showed up in 1970 driving his manager's Rolls Royce.

The entire production crew from the horror movie Deathdream, filmed in Brooksville in 1972. They booked the entire motel for three months.

Gordon Blaine, the handsome, strapping, suspendered, cigar smoking salesman from Gainesville who checked in every Tuesday afternoon during the late 50s and early 60s until he received a threat over our phone.

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El Motel room (1959)

1955 Gulf road map shows this area from Brooksville to Orlando as a serene drive back then. After Disney and the interstate system, this area would be spotted with new communities.

This BP gas station in Brooksville (1968) was just one of many in the city before the interstate. This one was located on West Broad Street and would later become a Greyhound bus station.

Local tourists used to show the places they've been with car window decals like the ones pictured above.

Weeki Wachee

Gulf map 1958

Tourists travelling on Highway 41 during the 1950s to the 1970s would often stop at Orangeland (seen here in 1963), a popular spot for fresh oranges, pecans, peanuts, etc., about 2 1/2 miles north of Brooksville. The building is still there.

Weeki Wachee Glass Bottom Boat (1934)