Our explores were firmly straddling the state line like a modern day Colossus of Rhodes! On this super cold March morning in 2024 our initial target for exploration was a bust, as the building had been recently demolished. That demolished site we were now standing in front of was almost an hour away from our home, and we didn’t want to waste the trip. We pulled up our trusty recon list and started to plot a few new destinations. The next closest explore was a shuttered industrial site just a few miles down the road.
As we approached our new destination, we made our final turn towards this industrial site. On our left sat a vacant hotel and conference center(I could barely contain my joy). I didn’t want to get too excited right away, so we continued on to the industrial site. Our hopes for entry were quickly crushed as this entire site was recently visited by the “new screw and plywood crew”. From this side of the site, we had a better overview of the hotel complex, and the large easily accessible hole positioned just above a snow bank piled high.
We quickly decided where to ditch the vehicle and we made our climb over the snowbank. Once we entered this hotel, there was an air of uneasiness and nostalgia that ran through me. I was instantly flooded with deja vu and “memories” from my childhood. This place was laid out just like a hotel that I spent many New Year’s Eves at, as a child with my entire family. It felt very familiar and it all came flooding back. My uncles shoving my mother and aunts into the pool, 80s kids watching movies we shouldn’t, late night card games, and drinks on the pool deck. As we made our way through a conference room and into the pool area we both felt like we weren’t alone. With smoke detectors beeping and wind whipping through broken glass, there were subtle noises and sounds emanating from all around!
This property had been dealing with issues for a bit when it finally closed in March of 2019. This site was finally condemned by the county health department in Sept of 2019 for unsafe conditions as well as continued flooding of the basement. Since then this place has been a haven for vagrants, urban explorers, and destructive minds with too much time on their hands. This place was closed and boarded up with almost everything and every room left intact. Beds were made, shampoo and conditioner was set out, bathroom towels were refreshed, and there was even booze still in the bar before the vandals got here. Most things that couldn’t be taken, consumed, or used – all ended up in the pool. Almost all glass or glass surfaces had been smashed. This is easily one of the most trashed, yet intact places I’ve ever visited.
This morning would be our first encounter with “wall-jarts”, “Wall-darts”, “chair-jarts”, I’m still working on the name, but it wouldn’t be the last time we’ve witnessed them! During our exploration we even came across a dead raccoon near the bar. I was saddened to think that they may have passed from non-natural causes, or “Rocket” may have gotten into poison :/ People in this hobby can be so shitty! There is no bonus credit for smashing and destroying things, I assure you…
Even though we could’ve spent an hour or two here, I glossed over many small details, because of the ever-present uneasiness of this place. Had we arrived earlier in this hotel’s abandonment, I would’ve spend SO MUCH TIME HERE.. And, if the rooms were just a bit more pristine and untouched, I could’ve gotten over any uneasy feelings I had to document this great little hotel!
In all, this was a short explore, but a really fun time. The completeness of each room was mind blowing to see and experience. All these things just left behind really show me how much money can be thrown away and forgotten.
If you really want to see how far this place has fallen after the location leaks and vandals took hold, here is a video from early 2020 before this place was ruined! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQQHzlQKtbY (Not Our Video, but so so cool) —- JUST 4 YEAR between this video and our pics…. 4 YEARS….
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Please enjoy! If you are bored, give our walk-thru a listen and send us an email!
Now for this border town’s abandoned hotel through Jean’s lens.
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