Above, the Ocean View Hotel-- was an adjunct to the Ocean View
Amusement Park. Remember, in 1855 the Ocean View Company
was formed, purchasing 10 acres of waterfront property to build the resort. One assumes
the center image above is the earliest surviving depiction of the hotel. Please note too,
the similarity in the shell image framing the hotel to Joe
Leatherman's card framing the casino.
The late 1800's saw Electric Traction (Trolley) companies and trolley magnates needed
to operate trolleys on weekends --to get the public to ride on Saturdays and Sundays, so
they built amusement parks at the end of trolley lines and the "Trolley Park"
was born. This makes Ocean View Park's birth seem fairly typical. There was a major fire
which destroyed the "Leap the Dips" original roller coaster, in 1914. We wonder
if the hotel survived that particular fire, since we don't recall images of it much later
than that. The 20's were the golden age of parks-- but the Market Crash, Depression and
World War II, certainly hampered growth. Still, baby boomers of the 1950's gave birth to
Kiddielands. With rapidly rising property values, that boom was short lived-- so with the
late 60's and early 70's, inner city parks began closing. One supposes our park was again
typical --but appreciates it survived through the late 70's.
Of
lesser interest historically, but certainly memorably: the Holiday Inn depicted (left)
in an early 70's postcard. When we had a family reunion in the early 90s, it was still
fine for our many guests from Ohio. It went quite a few management and name changes since,
but it's restaurant is best remembered as Jason's; and we remember wonderful Kathy
Byrd (who later managed Neptune's Galley) as the best ever manager. We wonder
how long it will be there in this time of tremendous change-- note in the enlarged
"today" photo (at right), that now operations are assumed by the
"Super 8" people.
While still in Willoughby Spit, we want to share a
bygone image of 1960's Cherry's Motor Court near 4th View. There was a definite
decline, and in recent years it was home to some very unfortunate people. As with
trailer parks, older hotels and converted efficiencies, these folk are being uprooted
--with no affordable housing as an alternative. We are all too familiar
with powerful developers lacking concern for these folk, and appalled that the city turns
a blind eye. We agree that blight and crime are "unattractive" but appreciate
one councilwoman's stance that we are forcing too many to be homeless (particularly those
with children) and it is unconscionable. The "motor court" vanished in recent
times, along with other residences at 4th View just east of the restaurant,
(see right). The Sea Mist had a similar fate, leveled in the past
year, now a vacant prime-time lot, waiting for developers' "meat hooks".
On a lighter side, while taking a
summer visitor on the Tour (not the virtual one, but one in our SUV) we
noted all of Harrison's
headboats were suddenly gone from our marina. Horrors!
Then, we received an email Jun 24 04, saying,
"WOULD LIKE TO TAKE 6 TO 10 SENIOR ADULTS ON A FISHING TRIP... PLEASE SEND BOOKING
INFORMATION... THANKS".
This was confusing to us. We thought someone wanted us to charter! Luckily, we'd also
noted a little sign with a phone number on it at 9605 Granby --so
replied: "Okay, now we get it. Please understand we must get at least 250 spam-emails
daily and never answer any, nor open --due to having good web traffic. Some of the
spammers are fairly creative. (Sigh) --We recommend Harrison's, although they've recently moved charter operations to
Hampton. Our son worked for them and Captain Alex. We've
no affiliations with area businesses but have grown up here and know good people to do
business with, and those to avoid... Hope you and your seniors party enjoy your outing.
Sorry for the misunderstanding... and hope you continue to visit the Nickel Tour for
updates on area concerns without political spin..." And luckily for all of us, the
Harrison family are still serving Hampton Roads.
Note (above/right) The Rustic. At
left, the Surf Motel in East Ocean View had us
baffled; with disparity in images of the same era and then learned there was a motel of
the same name in Virginia Beach. So often these
days, structures are here today and not next week though, so please continue to send in
your thoughts. We've also included Vann's Motel in EOV-- and hope some of our
visitors can enlighten us with some "history".
The Haven Inn in EOV still has
a dubious history for quite a few young adults in the early 70s --a party after work (2 am
closing) given by Maddog proprietors-- where nearly 100
guests arrived. No sooner had the group converged on the two-room suite, when
"Norfolk's Finest" arrived to break up the gathering, carting all guests in
paddy wagons, to the Fourth Precinct --behind what is now
Beachtowne Shoppes (home of Davenport's Barber
Shop today). The scene at the precinct bullpens was more fun than any party might
have been-- the old 4th bullpens and booking area had one of its busiest nights in
history. There was a court appearance for all attendees (Charlie Bashara
defended them as a group)-- where the judge dropped charges, and declaring that this was
"just a bunch of kids trying to have a little fun". Still, due to the size of
the group --most guests are unaware they probably still have a "frequenting a
disorderly house" charge on their police records today.
Many beachfront inns
were battered by Isabel. We know some are working to reopen
such as the Willoughby Marina Day's Inn which apparently reopened in recent
weeks. 
Incongruously, here
regarding hospitality-- you may remember the Navy Y (thanks to Guy) in EOV and have included it here, with another fairly
rare image of its interior (left)-- see many more hotel/hospitality
memorables around on the Nickel Tour-- especially those graciously contributed by Guy Willis. You also don't want to miss Joe's pages. No matter how grand or how small, we're very
interested in all of our visitors' memories and facts.
Two
"currently in operation" Ocean View inns include the Holiday Sands and
the Voyager Motor Inn, or what we know as the Ramada, today. Over years, the
719 EOV structure included a restaurant, which also was a cabaret going through various
transitions and ownerships. There is a bank where the restaurant was, today. In the image
at right, you can also see the Royal Mace looming behind
the inn.
OViewers should remember also, hospitality in the Military Circle area, 
(where most OViewers
continue to shop today) was a memorable place called The Admiralty, which promoted
as a "motor hotel", for that era when motoring vacations were prominent. It was
considered a very elegant while promoting "modern" amenities, in the early 60s,
when it was located approximately where the Wal-Mart is today. Its restaurant gained
renown for steak, and if memory serves was an Aberdeen Barn and later, Grate
Steak which moved a little south on Military Hwy, at least fifteen years back. The Bel-Aire
(right) across the highway, and maybe a quarter mile further south, can
also be seen with adjacent Burroughs. Area
business people, such as realtors, who wanted to "get away" for a seasonal
weekend, while still able to conduct local business, found these inns convenient to
airports and downtown.
Nearby, on Northampton you can still
find the Lake Wright Inn, although they have built a new restaurant/lodging area
while the original lobby entrance is vacant. It is still a popular golf course for Ocean
Viewers today. Click on the remarkable 1970s aerial at left-- as with all images here, it
is well worth enlarging. Downtown's premier 60's hotel was of course, the Golden
Triangle (today's Radisson). The "Nation's Room" was then, Norfolk's
international cuisine venue, although we weren't impressed with prime rib covered in a
candied sauce-- much like eating a burger with a Hershey Bar® substitution for
American Cheese. Yowza'! The Triangle caught on fabulously with the
"Golden Key Club" --a private bottle club for Norfolk's comers. It was
where Norfolk's own "Rat Pack" hung out back in the day-- groovin' on Frank
Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Keeley and newcomer, Barbra...
Norfolk's "RP"? Bingo Stant, Harry Sandler, Chris Christianson,
Jack Lewis, Tom Moss, Jack Stokes, Pete Babalas --oh and we'll
stop here before we buy any more trouble-- but, they definitely made the Las Vegas
RP chapter look tame by comparison. Ringa-ding-ding, baby.
Speaking of motor inns,
who remembers going to the Lafayette Yacht Club (right) for sorority
and fraternity dances, or even for the prom --and getting served "near beer"
(3.2 alcohol for 18 year olds [which we weren't yet])? 
Seems they had a lounge in there at one
time, called "RT's"-- short for River Terrace. Also in Riverview,
there was a lounge called "Sir Buddy's" across the street from the zoo--
it is difficult to tell where the building was though. At left you'll see the deteriorated
view of the Lafayette. Apparently the owner isn't budging although a certain judge owns
adjacent properties and talk of the site for future condominiums. That corridor on the
entry from Llewelyn to Delaware is one to watch and has been in the news
recent years.
Thanks for visiting the Nickel Tour. Your enthusiasm stokes ours.
Need Transportation? Did you see Hospitality? Vintage
Destinations & More Destinations?
