Vanished Site in Portugal - What was once a high-end resort is now a spooky derelict structure.
The abandoned luxurious hostel, which sheltered guests for just 18 months before turning into a huge ruin in the nature reserve, shut down in 1990. Standing at the Azores' most striking crater lake, it now acts as an unpleasant sight.
Entering this site gives you a spooky feeling. The place is filled with cracks. Is it about to fall apart? Water is dripping from the ceiling; could there be even spirits dwelling there?
This ruined hotel's history dates back to 1977. The Industria Açoriana Turístico-Hotelereira (IATH) company, an alliance of French and Belgian shareholders, collected money for two five-star hotels on the Azores. One of them belonged to Monte Palace, which followed certain demands: attaching it to the mountain in the east, and using neutral tones not to stand out in the scenery. The construction of the two hotels cost approximately ten million euros, according to futurismo.pt.
The doors to Monte Palace opened on April 15, 1989. It was five-storied with 88 rooms and included the Dona Amélia Grill, the Dom Carlos Restaurant, a bar, three conference rooms, a gaming room, a hair salon, a bank, a nightclub in the basement, and several boutiques. The resort was staffed with more than 100 employees.
Yet, guests never showed up at the mountainside location. The day the director at the Monte Palace in Lisbon accepted the Hotel of the Year Award, the staff in São Miguel was informed that the lavish hotel would soon close - just 18 months post-opening!
For two decades, a security guard was present with dogs to protect the site from vandalism until his pay was stopped in 2011, leading to his departure, thus starting the building's deterioration.
Local residents cleared out the deserted building, even removing the elevators. Curious tourists often believed the construction was still ongoing as they heard loud noises originating inside. However, it was simply people dismantling the baths in the suites.
In 2012, the local government decided to remove all the glass from the hotel to prevent potential accidents. This allowed more abuse and decay.
Most of the hotel's entryways are now bricked up, but anyone interested in exploring can still get inside through the former driveway. The water within is deep enough to soak your ankles. Hiking planks and rocks provide access to the premises.
Why Monte Palace Didn't Succeed
Today, it is evident that this was a highly ambitious venture in the wrong place and at the wrong time. At the moment, the hotel was extremely secluded. You had to hire a car, and the roads were not as well-developed in the 1990s. The desired audience were affluent guests or VIPs. However, a mere hiking path surrounded the resort, lending little entertainment.
Even the breathtaking view of the lakes and the sea was mostly obscured by the constant clouds. Due to its altitude, temperatures were indeed lower in this area, and it rained almost daily.
In 2017, a group of Chinese investors bought the ruins, planning to reopen it in 2021. Unfortunately, the reconstruction never commenced...
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Source: symclub.org
