Could Chicken Save Old Hotel?

By Calvert W. “Mac” McIlhany

I was 10 years old.  It was December 1951 and my family was traveling down Lee Highway to a new home.

I was devastated at having to leave all my friends and memories behind as we moved from Northern Virginia to a new home in Johnson City, Tenn. And the trip was so long! My brother and I sat in the back seat of the car for hours wondering if we would ever arrive at our destination.

Time passes. The grueling two-day trip through countless little towns on narrow two-lane roads is now just a half-day ride up the interstate.  But a few vivid memories still remind me of that trip so long ago.

I can remember looking out the car windows at such landmarks as the Virginia Military Institute campus passing through Lexington, Va., the huge refinery in Roanoke, Va., and, closer to our destination, such things as the Moonlite Drive-in theater, Howard Johnson’s Restaurant, Helm’s Candy Factory, Kern’s Bakery, and the Robert E. Lee Motel.

These reminders of my first trip down Lee Highway are beginning to disappear in the face of progress, neglect and the changing needs of our society. But they remain indelibly etched in my memory. How time flies.

It has recently come to my attention that the once grand Robert E. Lee Motel may disappear from the familiar landscape along Lee Highway. It has been transformed from its shining years as a unique landmark recognized by all who traveled through this area, to a sad and dilapidated eyesore giving few clues to its shining place in local history.

Well, so much for the past and the present. And the future for the Robert E. Lee suggests that it will probably disappear and become another faded memory of days and places belonging only to the past. I feel compelled to ask myself if there are other alternatives. Does the Robert E. Lee still have something to offer for current and future generations? Maybe so.

Recent articles in the Bristol Herald Courier and background research compiled during an architectural evaluation of the Robert E. Lee’s potential eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places suggest that this landmark may have historical significance, not only for its architectural style but also for its association with an individual whose name is recognized throughout the world.

I am not referring to the famous Confederate general for whom it and the adjacent highway were named, but to “The Colonel” who came up with a recipe containing 11 herbs and spices and changed the way the world looks at chicken. Harland “Colonel” Sanders sold Kentucky Fried Chicken in the second-story restaurant of the Robert E. Lee sometime during the early 1950s.

Current plans call for demolition of the Robert E. Lee, which has deteriorated to a point where it has become an eyesore and a hazard to public safety.  Restoration costs would be prohibitive to the current owner or to Washington County.  But what if the property could be made available to others who may have a vested interest in preserving and promoting this unique part of history and time?

How about the Sanders family or the KFC franchise?

This facility could be developed as a tribute not only to the famous Colonel who started his pre-franchise KFC career here, but to General Lee as well.  Just imagine the attraction of being able to hop off the Interstate 81 corridor and spend the night at a restored mid-20th century motel and dine at the place where the idea for Kentucky Fried Chicken was inspired and went through its pre-franchise development? I think even General Lee would have smiled at the idea.

Also, if the property were nominated for and placed on the National Register, it would become eligible for low-interest loans or grants for restoration.  Use of the restored Robert E. Lee as a motel, restaurant, tourist information center, museum to commemorate the life of Colonel Sanders represent several means of attracting more tourists to an area already rich in history, tradition and scenic beauty.

The Robert E. Lee and the people of this region deserve one more attempt to find a truly positive alternative to the wrecking ball. Will someone please contact the Sanders family or representatives of the KFC franchise to determine whether there is any interest?

The worst possible outcome would be an answer of “no.”

And the best possible outcome has unlimited potential to preserve a portion of our heritage before it is gone forever.

Calvert W. “Mac” McIlhany works for the Virginia Department of Transportation, where he is the cultural resources manager for the Bristol District.