Van Noy Railway News and Hotel Company

At a time when most passenger trains carried neither dining cars nor lounge cars, private businessmen such as the Van Noys recognized a profit opportunity by operating eating houses at railroad junction points and selling snacks and novelties aboard the trains.

As the business flourished, the Van Noy brothers became prominent members of local Kansas City society.

In the era before dining cars were carried on trains, Van Noy eating houses were established at points along the 7,500-mile (12,100 km) Missouri Pacific system to feed passengers.

In 1916, when he was 15 years old, Walt Disney spent a summer working for the Van Noy Interstate Company as a news butch, selling merchandise on various rail lines radiating out of Kansas City.

In 1922, the company owned distribution avenues covering 90,000 miles (140,000 km) of railroad, and had accumulated a massive portfolio of concession stands, stores, restaurants, and hotels.

As a result of changes in railroad passenger train service, Van Noy Interstate began to focus more on the hotel side of their operations.

Through this acquisition, Autogrill gained contracts in 18 of the 20 largest United States airports as well as franchises such as Pizza Hut, Burger King, Sbarro, and Starbucks.

Autogrill renamed the company HMSHost, which is largely the corporate successor to the 1897 Van Noy operation and continues to provide products, services, and entertainment to customers on the go.

Today, the company is called Host Hotels and Resorts and is a Real estate investment trust, employing some 229 employees.

Meal ticket issued to employee of Missouri Pacific Railway, authorizing purchase of meals at special discounted "railroad rate" of thirty five cents, at all Van Noy dining rooms located along the Missouri Pacific and Iron Mountain Railways .
Van Noy hotel constructed in Newport, Arkansas in 1907. Note how hotel follows architectural style of adjacent depot which had been constructed five years earlier. Signs on corner of building say "Van Noy Dining Room", while sign over door says "Van Noy Lunch Room."