50 Abandoned Hotels That Are Frozen in Time
36. Sheraton Rarotonga – Cook Islands: The Heartbreak Hotel
Locally known as the "Heartbreak Hotel," this sprawling resort complex on Rarotonga was abandoned mid-construction in the early 1990s due to alleged government fraud and financial mismanagement linked to the Italian mafia. What was meant to be a flagship Sheraton property became a collection of concrete shells and unfinished structures slowly being devoured by tropical vegetation. For decades, it stood as the island's largest white elephant, a stark reminder of failed ambition. While recent redevelopment efforts aim to finally complete the resort, its long history as a modern ruin makes it a unique tale of paradise postponed.
