22 Abandoned Resorts From a Bygone Era You Can Still Visit
Imagine pushing past overgrown vines to discover a grand lobby where dust motes dance in sunbeams slicing through broken windows, or finding a once-sparkling swimming pool now mirroring only the clouds. These aren't just ruins; they are abandoned resorts, hauntingly beautiful time capsules whispering tales of bygone luxury, laughter-filled holidays, and sudden silence. What secrets linger in their empty corridors? What caused the music to stop? This eerie blend of faded glamour and encroaching nature holds a powerful allure, drawing explorers to witness elegance reclaimed by time. Join us as we venture into the heart of this fascination, uncovering the captivating stories and lingering mystique of 22 forgotten resorts across the globe. Prepare to step into a world where forgotten grandeur awaits rediscovery by the truly adventurous spirit.
1. The Ghostly Grandeur of Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel
Nestled in the heart of New York's Catskill Mountains, Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel was once a premier destination in the mid-20th century. Known for its lavish amenities and star-studded guest list, the resort was a symbol of opulence and entertainment. Today, the remnants of its once-grand ballrooms and Olympic-sized pool stand as a testament to its illustrious past. Visitors can wander through the decaying halls, imagining the laughter and music that once filled the air. The resort's closure in 1986 marked the end of an era, but its legacy continues to captivate those who venture into its forgotten elegance.
2. The Eerie Silence of the Haludovo Palace Hotel
On the Croatian island of Krk, the Haludovo Palace Hotel stands as a relic of Cold War-era luxury. Opened in 1972, this extravagant resort was financed by Penthouse magazine publisher Bob Guccione, who envisioned a hedonistic paradise. The hotel's bold architecture and lavish interiors attracted a global elite, but geopolitical tensions and economic downturns led to its decline. Today, the hotel's skeletal remains offer a haunting yet fascinating exploration of a place where decadence once thrived. The overgrown gardens and empty pools whisper stories of lavish parties and international intrigue, inviting visitors to imagine its glamorous past.
3. Exploring the Decay of the Varosha Resort
In Cyprus, the Varosha Resort stands as a poignant symbol of conflict and abandonment. Once a bustling tourist destination in the 1970s, Varosha was deserted almost overnight during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The resort's hotels and beaches, once teeming with life, are now frozen in time, surrounded by barbed wire and military presence. Recently, parts of Varosha have been reopened to visitors, offering a rare glimpse into a world left behind. Walking through the streets of this ghost town, one can feel the weight of history and the enduring hope for reconciliation and peace.
4. The Haunting Beauty of the Hotel Belvedere
Perched high in the Swiss Alps, the Hotel Belvedere offers breathtaking views and a haunting sense of solitude. Built in the late 19th century, this iconic hotel was a favorite among travelers seeking adventure and tranquility. However, with the advent of modern transportation and changing tourism trends, the hotel fell into disrepair. Today, its grand staircase and ornate architecture remain, drawing photographers and history enthusiasts alike. The Belvedere's isolated location and stunning vistas make it a must-visit for those seeking to experience the serene beauty of an abandoned alpine retreat.
5. The Forgotten Splendor of the Ryugyong Hotel
In the heart of Pyongyang, North Korea, the Ryugyong Hotel stands as an imposing monument to ambition and unrealized dreams. Construction of this pyramid-shaped skyscraper began in 1987, with plans to create the world's tallest hotel. However, economic challenges and political isolation halted progress, leaving the structure incomplete for decades. Though recently revitalized with a new facade, the hotel's interior remains unfinished and inaccessible. The Ryugyong Hotel's towering presence and enigmatic history continue to intrigue visitors and symbolize the complexities of North Korea's relationship with the outside world.
6. A Journey Through the Ruins of the San Zhi Pod Village
Located in Taiwan, the San Zhi Pod Village is a futuristic relic that never reached its full potential. Originally designed as a luxury resort in the 1970s, the pod-like structures were abandoned due to financial difficulties and rumored accidents during construction. The village's eerie, otherworldly appearance has made it a popular site for urban explorers and photographers. Walking among the colorful, UFO-shaped pods, visitors can imagine the innovative vision that inspired this unique project and ponder the mysteries surrounding its sudden abandonment.
7. The Tragic Tale of the Bokor Hill Station
High above the jungles of Cambodia, the Bokor Hill Station tells a story of colonial ambition and wartime devastation. Built by the French in the 1920s as a mountain retreat, the resort offered a cool escape from the tropical heat. However, political turmoil and conflict led to its abandonment, leaving behind a collection of eerie, mist-shrouded ruins. Today, the site is a popular destination for those seeking adventure and history, offering panoramic views and a haunting reminder of Cambodia's turbulent past. The crumbling casino and church serve as poignant symbols of a lost era.
8. The Deserted Luxury of the Hotel del Salto
Overlooking the dramatic Tequendama Falls in Colombia, the Hotel del Salto was once a luxurious destination for the country's elite. Built in the 1920s, the hotel fell into disuse as pollution and urbanization took their toll on the surrounding area. Today, the building has been transformed into a museum, preserving its history and offering visitors a chance to explore its elegant yet eerie interiors. The hotel's picturesque location and tragic history have made it a popular spot for photographers and those intrigued by the supernatural, as legends of hauntings add to its mystique.
9. The Melancholic Charm of the Poveglia Island Asylum
Off the coast of Venice, Poveglia Island is shrouded in mystery and folklore. Once a quarantine station and later a mental asylum, the island's abandoned buildings are steeped in tales of suffering and the supernatural. The asylum's haunting architecture and overgrown grounds create an atmosphere of eerie beauty, attracting adventurers and paranormal enthusiasts. Though officially off-limits, the island's dark history and chilling legends continue to draw those seeking to explore its secrets. Poveglia stands as a testament to the enduring allure of places where history and myth intertwine.
10. The Majestic Isolation of Craco
In the hills of southern Italy, the ghost town of Craco offers a mesmerizing blend of history and natural beauty. Abandoned in the 1960s due to landslides and instability, Craco's medieval architecture and narrow streets remain frozen in time. The town's dramatic location and well-preserved ruins have made it a popular filming location, adding to its mystique. Visitors can wander through the empty streets, imagining the lives once lived in this isolated hilltop village. Craco's haunting beauty and rich history make it a captivating destination for those drawn to the romance of abandoned places.
11. The Enigmatic Ruins of the Gagra Resort
Nestled on the Black Sea coast in Abkhazia, the Gagra Resort was once a glamorous getaway for Soviet elites. With its subtropical climate and stunning architecture, Gagra attracted visitors from across the Soviet Union. However, the collapse of the USSR and subsequent conflict in the region led to its decline. Today, the resort's grand hotels and theaters lie in ruins, surrounded by lush vegetation and the sound of the sea. The juxtaposition of decaying opulence and natural beauty creates a unique atmosphere, drawing those who seek to explore the remnants of a lost utopia.
12. The Resilient Beauty of the Beelitz-Heilstätten Sanatorium
Just outside Berlin, the Beelitz-Heilstätten Sanatorium is a sprawling complex of abandoned hospital buildings with a rich history. Originally built in the late 19th century to treat tuberculosis patients, the sanatorium later served as a military hospital during both World Wars. Today, its decaying halls and overgrown courtyards offer a hauntingly beautiful exploration of medical history and architectural grandeur. The site has become a popular destination for urban explorers and photographers, drawn to its eerie atmosphere and the stories of resilience and recovery that echo through its walls.
13. Penn Hills Resort: Echoes of Honeymoon Romance
Deep within Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains lies Penn Hills Resort, once a vibrant symbol of kitschy honeymoon romance, famed for its heart-shaped tubs and mirrored ceilings. Opened in 1944, it thrived for decades before declining finances and neglect led to its closure in 2009. Today, nature intertwines with faded glamour; heart-shaped jacuzzis sit waterlogged, round beds gather dust, and collapsed roofs expose once-private suites to the elements. Exploring Penn Hills offers a poignant glimpse into a specific era of American leisure culture, its decaying state a stark contrast to the countless romantic memories forged within its walls.
14. Hotel Ponce Intercontinental: Modernist Majesty Overlooking the Caribbean
Perched atop El Vigia Hill in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the Hotel Ponce Intercontinental stands as a remarkable, abandoned example of mid-century modernist architecture. Designed by renowned architect William B. Tabler, it opened in 1960 offering panoramic views and luxury amenities. Financial troubles forced its closure in 1975, leaving its distinctive curved structure and sweeping vistas to the elements. Despite decades of decay, its architectural significance and dramatic location make it a compelling site, a silent testament to a glamorous past and the economic shifts that left it behind, overlooking the vibrant city below.
15. Kupari Tourist Complex: A War-Torn Riviera
Just south of Dubrovnik, Croatia, the Kupari bay presents a haunting panorama – a collection of once-luxurious hotels shattered by war. Developed as an elite resort for the Yugoslav People's Army officers and guests, featuring Hotels Pelegrin, Kupari, Goričina, Grand, and Mladost, it boasted prime beachfront property. The Croatian War of Independence in the early 1990s saw the complex heavily shelled and looted. Today, these skeletal structures stand open to the Adriatic winds, their bombed-out facades and graffiti-scarred walls offering a stark, powerful reminder of the conflict that abruptly ended its life as a Mediterranean paradise.
16. Salton Sea Resorts: Desert Dreams Turned Toxic
In the Southern California desert, the shores of the Salton Sea are littered with the decaying remnants of once-thriving resort towns like Bombay Beach and Salton City. In the 1950s and 60s, this inland sea was hailed as the "Salton Riviera," attracting boaters, vacationers, and celebrities. However, increasing salinity, agricultural runoff, and ecological collapse led to mass fish die-offs and drove tourism away. Today, abandoned motels, marinas, and homes bake under the desert sun beside the receding, often pungent water, creating a surreal landscape of mid-century dreams turned dystopian reality.
17. Coco Palms Resort: Paradise Lost to the Storm
Immortalized in Elvis Presley's film "Blue Hawaii," the Coco Palms Resort on Kauai, Hawaii, was the epitome of Polynesian glamour. Opened in 1953 amidst a historic coconut grove, it hosted Hollywood stars and discerning travelers. But in 1992, Hurricane Iniki devastated the property, forcing its closure. Decades of decay, legal battles, and stalled redevelopment plans have followed, leaving the iconic bungalows and lagoons overgrown and dilapidated. Exploring its grounds (often restricted) reveals the fragile nature of paradise and the enduring legacy of a legendary island retreat reclaimed by the jungle.
18. Hotel Igman: Olympic Glory Scarred by Conflict
High on Mount Igman near Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, stands the imposing ruin of Hotel Igman. Built with striking Brutalist design for the 1984 Winter Olympics, it offered luxury accommodations amidst pristine ski slopes. Just years later, during the Bosnian War (1992-1995), the hotel became a battleground, sustaining heavy damage. Though structurally intact, its vast, empty halls and bullet-pocked walls are a chilling monument to the conflict that followed Olympic glory. Exploring Hotel Igman offers a stark juxtaposition of architectural ambition, international celebration, and the devastating consequences of war.
19. Vila Epecuén: The Town That Drowned
Once a bustling spa town on the shores of Laguna Epecuén in Argentina, Vila Epecuén was famed for its therapeutic saltwater lake, attracting thousands seeking relief for ailments. In 1985, a rare weather pattern caused the lake to burst its dam, slowly submerging the entire town. For nearly 25 years, it remained underwater. As waters receded from 2009 onwards, haunting skeletal ruins emerged – petrified trees, building foundations, and rusted vehicles creating an eerie, salt-encrusted landscape. It stands as a surreal testament to nature's power and a community abruptly washed away.
20. Consonno: Italy's Failed "City of Toys"
In the hills of Lombardy, Italy, lies the bizarre ghost town of Consonno. In the 1960s, eccentric entrepreneur Count Mario Bagno bought the existing village, razed most of it, and began building a fantastical resort city – a "Las Vegas of Brianza." It featured a mock-medieval castle entrance, a minaret, pagodas, and kitschy attractions. However, poor planning and a devastating landslide in 1976 that wiped out the main access road sealed its fate. Today, Consonno is a surreal collection of decaying, whimsical structures, a monument to flawed ambition and a dream resort that barely lived.
21. Lee Plaza Hotel: Detroit's Decaying Art Deco Jewel
Soaring 15 stories above Detroit, Michigan, the Lee Plaza Hotel is a stunning example of Art Deco architecture left to ruin. Opened in 1927 as a luxurious residential hotel, it featured ornate details, marble finishes, and elegant living spaces. Economic decline and mismanagement led to its eventual closure in the 1990s. Despite numerous attempts at revitalization, it remains vacant, stripped of many fixtures but still retaining its grand, albeit decaying, structural beauty. Lee Plaza stands as a poignant symbol of Detroit's changing fortunes and the lost elegance of a bygone era of urban sophistication.
22. Polissya Hotel: Silent Witness in Pripyat
Within the haunting Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine stands the Polissya Hotel, a prominent landmark in the abandoned city of Pripyat. Built in the mid-1970s, it served visitors to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the burgeoning city. Following the catastrophic nuclear disaster in 1986, the entire population was evacuated, leaving the hotel frozen in time. Images of its decaying lobby, empty rooms, and the surrounding ghost city have become iconic symbols of the tragedy. Visiting (via guided tour) offers a deeply sobering experience, exploring a place of modern life abruptly halted by unseen danger.
Embracing the Elegance of the Past
The exploration of abandoned resorts offers a unique opportunity to connect with history and experience the beauty of forgotten elegance. These destinations, though once vibrant and full of life, now stand as silent witnesses to the passage of time. Each resort tells its own story of rise and fall, offering insights into the cultural, political, and economic forces that shaped their destinies. By visiting these sites, we not only honor their past but also reflect on the impermanence of human endeavors and the enduring allure of places where history and imagination converge. As you step into the forgotten elegance of these abandoned resorts, may you find inspiration in their stories and a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of human history they represent.
