You’ve probably seen the green sign a thousand times. It’s a staple of the American highway, as common as a gas station or a patch of sunflowers. But have you ever stopped to wonder what year was Holiday Inn made? Most people guess the sixties because of the mid-century modern aesthetic of those old neon signs, but the truth actually starts a decade earlier.
It was 1952.
The world was changing. Families were finally hitting the road in their shiny new station wagons, but the experience was, frankly, a bit of a nightmare. You’d drive for ten hours, pull into a roadside "motor court," and pray the bedsheets didn't have mystery stains. Kemmons Wilson, a real estate developer from Memphis, Tennessee, went on a family road trip to Washington, D.C., and was absolutely appalled. He found that motels were cramped, inconsistent, and—worst of all for a father of five—they charged extra for every single child.
He came home and told his wife he was going to start his own hotel chain. He wanted something predictable. He wanted something clean. Most importantly, he wanted something where kids stayed for free. That spark in 1952 didn't just create a brand; it basically invented the modern hospitality industry as we know it today.
The Memphis Origins: August 1, 1952
The very first Holiday Inn opened its doors on Summer Avenue in Memphis. If you were looking for it today, you'd find a plaque, but the original building is long gone. It wasn't some massive skyscraper. It was a simple, one-story brick building with air conditioning—a massive luxury at the time—and a swimming pool.
Wilson partnered with an architect named Eddie Bluestein. The name itself? It was actually a bit of a joke. Bluestein had seen the 1942 Bing Crosby movie Holiday Inn on TV and scrawled the title across the blueprints as a placeholder. Wilson loved it. It sounded welcoming. It sounded like a vacation.
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By 1953, Wilson had three more locations popping up around Memphis. He realized quickly that he couldn't do this alone if he wanted to go national. He teamed up with Wallace E. Johnson, another Memphis builder who knew how to scale. They didn't just want a few hotels. They wanted a network.
Why 1952 Was the Perfect Storm for Travel
You can’t talk about what year was Holiday Inn made without looking at the context of the 1950s. The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 was just around the corner, but the demand for travel was already exploding.
Before Holiday Inn, staying in a motel was a gamble. You might get a room with a leaky roof, or you might get lucky. Wilson changed the game by introducing standards. He insisted on:
- Telephones in every room (wildly expensive at the time).
- Air conditioning that actually worked.
- A restaurant on-site so you didn't have to wander around a strange town at night looking for food.
- Ice machines. Seriously, free ice was a revolutionary concept back then.
People flocked to it because they knew exactly what they were going to get. It was the McDonald’s of hotels before McDonald’s was even a global thing. By 1958, there were 50 locations. By 1964, there were 500. It was a literal explosion of hospitality.
The "Great Sign" and the 1960s Boom
If you were a kid in the 1960s, seeing that "Great Sign" meant you’d finally made it. It was 50 feet tall, covered in neon, and featured a flashing "starburst" at the top. It was designed to be seen from a distance at high speeds on the new interstate highways.
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Honestly, the sign was as much of a character as the hotel itself. It had a readerboard where managers would put quirky messages or welcome local bowling leagues. It created a sense of community in a place that was built for people who were just passing through.
Holidex: The Secret Tech Revolution
By the 1960s, the chain was growing so fast they couldn't keep track of the rooms. In 1965, Holiday Inn launched "Holidex." This was the first computerized reservation system in the travel industry.
Think about that for a second. While most businesses were still using ledger books and rotary phones, Holiday Inn was using a massive IBM mainframe to link every hotel in the country. If you were in Miami, you could book a room in Chicago instantly. It was the precursor to everything we do today on Expedia or Airbnb. It’s easy to think of Holiday Inn as just a "budget" choice now, but in the mid-60s, they were basically the Apple of the hotel world.
Evolution and the Modern Era
As the decades rolled on, the brand had to pivot. The original roadside motel model started to feel a bit dated by the late 70s. People wanted indoor hallways—it felt safer and more upscale.
In 1979, the "Great Sign" began to be retired. It was too expensive to maintain, and the neon was seen as "tacky" by a new generation of travelers. They moved toward the green-and-white backlit signs we see today. They also branched out. You started seeing Holiday Inn Express in 1990, which targeted the "no-frills" business traveler who just wanted a clean bed and a hot breakfast (and those iconic cinnamon rolls).
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Today, the brand is owned by IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group). It’s massive. We’re talking over 1,200 hotels globally. But it all traces back to that one frustrated father in 1952 who was tired of being ripped off for traveling with his kids.
Misconceptions About the Brand
Sometimes people confuse the "founding" with the "incorporation." While the first hotel opened in 1952, Holiday Inns of America, Inc. was officially incorporated in 1954. If you're looking for the technical business start date, that's your answer. But for anyone who cares about the soul of the brand, 1952 is the year that matters.
Another common mistake is thinking it started as a luxury brand. It didn't. It was always meant to be the "middle class" choice. It was built for the people who weren't rich enough for the Waldorf Astoria but were too dignified for a shack by the side of the road.
Actionable Takeaways for the Modern Traveler
Knowing the history of Holiday Inn actually helps you navigate their current offerings. Because they were the first to "standardize," they still maintain very specific tiers that cater to different needs.
- Check the "Age" of the Property: If you are staying at an original "Holiday Inn" (not an Express), you are likely getting a full-service hotel with a restaurant and bar. These are often older buildings that have been renovated. If you want something more modern and uniform, the Holiday Inn Express locations are typically newer builds.
- Leverage the Family Heritage: The "Kids Stay and Eat Free" program isn't just a marketing gimmick; it's the core reason the company exists. Always check the age limits at your specific location, as it usually applies to kids 12 and under at the on-site restaurant.
- The IHG One Rewards Factor: Since Holiday Inn is part of the massive IHG umbrella, your stay in a humble roadside hotel can earn you points for a luxury stay at an InterContinental or a Kimpton. It’s one of the most effective "earn and burn" strategies in travel.
- Look for the "H" Sign: In recent years, they’ve updated their branding again to a sleeker, more minimalist "H." This usually signals a property that has undergone the most recent "Formula Blue" or "Open Lobby" renovations, which focus on co-working spaces and better Wi-Fi.
The next time you pull into a Holiday Inn, you aren't just checking into a room. You’re stepping into a piece of 1952 Americana that managed to survive the end of the neon era and thrive in the digital age.
Next Steps for Your Trip
To get the most out of a Holiday Inn stay today, download the IHG One Rewards app before you book. Unlike the 1950s where you just showed up and hoped for a vacancy, the app allows you to choose "Points + Cash" options that can significantly drop your nightly rate. Also, if you’re traveling for business, look for the "Express" locations specifically—they are designed for quick turnover and almost always include a 24-hour business center that actually works.