Strangest Abandoned Hotels Around The World
From ghost town resorts to deserted alpine buildings, these are ten strange abandoned hotels around the world.
Divine Lorraine Hotel, Philadelphia, North Philadelphia.
Built and abandoned, the Divine Lorraine Hotel has been a landmark building in the city since 1894. It was luxurious and beautiful, a sight to behold. The hotel was one of the first high-rise buildings in all of Philadelphia, standing at 10 stories tall. Before 1948, the building was known as the Lorraine Apartments.
Why the sudden change from apartments to a hotel? Well, Reverend Major Jealous Divine bought the property for $485,000, equivalent to $5 million in today’s money.
Who was this guy, and how did he have that kind of money? Apart from claiming he was God incarnate, the Reverend was a spiritual leader who created the International Peace Mission movement and was involved with racial issues at the time. All in all, he was a pretty interesting, if somewhat forgotten, character in America’s history.
The building was renamed the Divine Lorraine Hotel and was the first business of its kind to be fully racially integrated. It even had a public floor dedicated as a place of worship. The hotel remained open until 1999, transforming into a canvas for local graffiti artists and a refuge for the homeless.
Surprisingly, the complex was successfully renovated, and now you can get yourself a one-bedroom apartment starting at $1,500 a month. It’s nice to see that sometimes a historical building can be used to its full capacity again.
The Coopre Resort, Croatia.
When you hear of the magical Dalmatian Coast and Dubrovnik, you don’t imagine this, yet here we are. A little ways down the road from the city center of Dubrovnik, you will find what is known as the Coopre Resort.
The three main hotels in the resort, the Grand Hotel, the Pelegrin, and Coopre, were victims of the War of Independence, a grim reminder of what used to be.
This resort is also known as the Bay of Abandoned Hotels, as it has been in a standstill for the past twenty years. From the looks of it, you are free to explore the buildings, and there’s even some prime beach space for those of us who like to get a little bit of sun.
Just to give you some perspective on how big these hotels are, they could accommodate around 3,000 people. It’s safe to say the Coopre Resort will probably never return to its former glory, but it will be a place for tourists to explore until the buildings totally crumble.
Bad Gastein, Austria.
Some conflicting stories on this one. Many people describe this majestic alpine village as a great resort to visit, while others believe that the handful of abandoned hotels and sanatoriums are an eyesore not deserving of their money.
Bad Gastein was once one of the most popular spots for a winter holiday, but with the rise of nearby communities, tourism dwindled. Hotels like the Grand Strubinger and Badderschloss have been shut down for good, and the local community is pretty mad about the situation. A big company purchased the failing hotels with the promise of renovation, but they never followed through with their plans.
Bokor Palace, Cambodia.
A remnant of colonial times, the Bokor Palace was a great spot for French citizens to visit while traveling in Southeast Asia. Built in the 1920s, the palace had a hotel-casino, church, and a royal residence. However, the French abandoned the location in the first Indochina War.
Some 20 years later, the palace was reopened, more buildings were added, including the aforementioned casino. The resort was again unsuccessful, and in 1972, it was taken over by the Khmer Rouge.
So, what’s going on here today? Not much, not much at all. A company bought the properties, and they’re supposed to be renovating it, but the process has been very, very slow.
Ducor Hotel, Liberia.
The Ducor Hotel was a five-star hotel, one of the few in all of Africa at the time of its construction. The hotel was shut down weeks before the start of the first Liberian civil war in 1989. As with any civil war, buildings were destroyed, looted, and abandoned, and the Ducor Hotel was no exception.
For many years, the once beautiful place used by politicians and businessmen was filled with squatters. It wasn’t until 2007 that the squatting problem was somewhat taken care of.
In 2008, there were talks and hopes of renovation, and the Liberian government undertook the project and started to clear up most of the property. But in 2011, Liberia had its own little civil war problem, and the Ducor Hotel is still desolate.
Hotel Sheraton, Cook Islands.
Would you believe me if I told you this hotel was cursed from the very beginning? Well, that’s how the official story goes. The hotel’s builders had close ties to the Mafia, and some locals claimed that the land they built the hotel on was illegally obtained.
During the building ceremony, a man started chanting and yelling. Apparently, he cursed the project, and to be fair, the Hotel Sheraton Rarotonga never did open its doors.
Could it have been a money-laundering scheme or something else? After all, the project was abandoned, but only after most of the buildings were completed. You can visit the creepy location if you dare.
Sanzhi UFO Houses, Taiwan.
Here we are at another YouTube-certified location. These UFO houses are featured in almost every top list video, so most of you have probably seen them before.
Then again, as the relevant XKCD comic states, for each thing that everyone knows about, there are 10,000 new people that learn about it each day. So, a quick round of applause for all you newcomers out there.
Also referred to as the Pod City, the area was developed as a vacation resort near the coast of Sanzhi. Even though the resort looks futuristic, construction actually began in 1978. Unfortunately, the only thing that remains of this ghost town of the future is pictures. All buildings were torn down by 2009.
The Lee Plaza Hotel, Michigan.
Yet again, we visit Detroit, Michigan. The whole city has suffered greatly, and even though it has such a rich and vibrant history, many parts of the town lay in ruins. The Lee Plaza Hotel was finished in 1929. At first, it was used as a luxury apartment building. During the Great Depression, the building changed owners a few times, each having a different idea for its future.
In the 50s and 60s, it became a not-so-fancy hotel, and by 1968, it was converted to an old folks’ home. That didn’t last long either. By 1997, the Lee Plaza was completely vacant and shut down. The city of Detroit has purchased the Lee Plaza, and there are talks of renovations, but only time will tell.
The Hotel Belvedere, Croatia.
Hey, we’re back on the Dalmatian Coast, aren’t we? In the city of Dubrovnik, nonetheless. This time, we’re looking at the remains of the luxury Hotel Belvedere. Some of you might recognize it from the somewhat popular show… what’s it called? Game of Thrones or something? I don’t think anyone watches it, right?
Just like the Coopre Resort Hotel, Belvedere was used as a shelter during the Croatian War of Independence. Both places were attacked by Serbian forces, and the damage was too much to recover from. In recent years, the location was purchased by a Russian billionaire who has some insane plans for it. Everything old will be demolished, and a new, much smaller, exclusive, and luxurious resort will be built. So, if you want to get your urban exploration on, you’ve got to go now.
Grand Hotel San Pellegrino
The Grand Hotel San Pellegrino boasts a rich history that dates back to the late 19th century. Its magnificent Belle Époque architecture is a testament to an era of opulence, characterized by graceful curves, intricate detailing, and an elegant façade reminiscent of the grand palaces of the past. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this architectural marvel stands as a symbol of the hotel’s dedication to preserving its heritage.
San Pellegrino Terme itself is steeped in history and cultural significance. The town derives its name from the world-famous mineral water spring, the San Pellegrino Terme, renowned for its healing properties. Visitors have flocked here for centuries, not just for the exquisite hotel but also to experience the soothing effects of these therapeutic waters.