Exploring the Past: Top Abandoned Hotels for Urban Explorers
Abandoned hotels are eerie, fascinating and often hold a wealth of history and mystery. For urban explorers, they offer an opportunity to step back in time and explore the remnants of grandeur that once was. Here is our list of top abandoned hotels that should be on any urban explorer’s bucket list.
1. The Pines Hotel – Catskills, New York
Located in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, The Pines Hotel was once a popular destination for Jewish families looking for a summer escape from the city. From 1933 to 1998 it operated as a hotel with amenities such as tennis courts, swimming pools and even its own synagogue. Today it stands empty and decaying but retains many original features including murals by artist Bernarda Bryson Shahn.
2. Grossinger’s Resort – Liberty, New York
Another once-popular Catskills resort is Grossinger’s which opened in 1919 and became famous for its luxury amenities including golf courses, swimming pools and skiing facilities. During its heyday in the 1950s-60s it attracted A-list celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie Robinson. However by the late 70s business had declined due to changing vacation trends leading to its eventual closure in 1986.
3. The Lee Plaza Hotel – Detroit, Michigan
The Lee Plaza Hotel was built in 1929 during Detroit’s boom years when it was one of North America’s most prosperous cities thanks to the automobile industry. It remained open until the early ‘90s before becoming victim to vandalism causing damage throughout much of its interior.
4.The Grand Hotel Prishtina – Kosovo
The Grand Hotel Pristhina used to be one of Kosovo’s tallest buildings standing at about twelve stories high with more than two hundred rooms available for guests’ comfortability; however this changed after Yugoslavia collapsed which led into war between Serbia forces against Albanian guerillas/Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The hotel served as a base for Serbian forces during the war, and after the war ended, it was used to house refugees.
5. The Royal Hotel – Pilgrim’s Rest, South Africa
The quaint town of Pilgrim’s Rest is a living museum that depicts life in a gold rush town during the late 1800s. One of its most famous buildings is The Royal Hotel which opened in 1894 and served as a popular stopover for travelers journeying between Johannesburg and Mozambique. However changes in transportation led to its decline and eventual closure in 1972.
6. Grossman’s Sea Palace – Bayville, New Jersey
Grossman’s Sea Palace was once one of New Jersey’s premier seaside resorts, situated on Barnegat Bay with its own private beach area for guests’ enjoyment. It operated from the early 1900s until being shut down due to an electrical fire in the late ’80s.
7. Lake Shore Motel – Atlantic City, NJ
The Lake Shore Motel sits abandoned along Lakeshore Road on Absecon Island across from Atlantic City; it has been closed since 2009 when city officials ordered it shut down over health code violations among other issues such as safety concerns stemming from structural damage caused by Hurricane Sandy two years earlier.
8.Villa de Vecchi – Cortenova, Italy
Villa De Vecchi was built in the mid-19th century by Count Felice De Vecchi who wanted his family home to resemble medieval castles found throughout Europe; however this wasn’t enough to save it from ruin when World War II broke out leading into abandonment thereafter.
These abandoned hotels offer insight into different eras of history while also providing urban explorers with unique opportunities to explore places frozen in time. Whether you’re interested in architecture or just love exploring abandoned places these hotels are sure to captivate and inspire. As always, be sure to obtain proper permission before entering any abandoned buildings and respect the history they hold.