From Europe’s glamorous beachfront resorts to America’s high-society escapes, many properties around the world have fallen from grace after once thriving in their heydays. Changes in travel trends, consumer habits, and technology have all contributed to these former tourist hot spots turning to quiet ruins and forgotten landmarks. Discover five abandoned resorts around the world and their fascinating histories.

The Baker Hotel – Texas

Opened in 1929 in Mineral Wells, Texas, during the town’s mineral water boom, the Baker Hotel quickly became a grand wellness destination. Featuring 14 floors and over 400 rooms, the hotel offered a menu of mineral baths, steam rooms, salt rubs, hot packs, manicures, and facials. It even attracted Hollywood clientele such as Judy Garland and Clark Gable. 

Despite its popularity for several decades, the hotel closed in 1972 as interest in healing waters faded and the cost of maintaining such a large property became too high. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982, the Baker Hotel is currently undergoing a major three-year renovation project and is scheduled to reopen in 2028. Once completed, the restoration aims to bring back its historic charm while reestablishing Mineral Wells as a wellness destination.

Le Palais Hotel – Thailand

Located on the southern end of Koh Phangan, an island north of tourist hot spot Koh Samui, Le Palais Hotel opened in 2014. The eye-catching  property took design cues from Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious structure. But that led to controversy over Thailand’s use of sacred architectural styles, and public outcry, along with the impact of the pandemic, played a role in its closure just six years later in 2020, despite a public apology from the hotel. 

Today, even though it’s no longer operating, the site still draws curious visitors because of its unusual design. People wander by to see the intricate carvings and overgrown jungle, which give it the feel of a hidden temple when, in reality, it’s just an abandoned hotel.

Coco Palms Resort – Hawaii

Set on the east coast of Kauai, Coco Palms Resort opened in 1953 and was once one of Hawaii’s most legendary getaways. The resort’s fame grew after being featured in several films in the 1950s and ’60s, most notably Blue Hawaii starring Elvis Presley. Travelers were drawn to its romantic setting and unique touches, such as the ability to arrive by canoe through the resort’s lagoon. 

The decline of Coco Palms began in 1992 after Hurricane Iniki devastated Kauai, leaving the resort severely damaged and ultimately forcing its closure. While the property never reopened, redevelopment plans were recently announced to rebuild the resort with a modern design that pays homage to its history. For now, the site remains largely abandoned and overgrown with vegetation, with the original lobby, staircases, and structures partially intact. 

Haludovo Palace Hotel – Croatia

Once an extravagant resort in the 1970s, Haludovo Palace Hotel now lies eerily abandoned on the Croatian island of Krk, located in the northern Adriatic Sea. The property opened in 1972 and gained a reputation for its lavish parties, fine dining, and over-the-top luxury. Penthouse magazine founder Bob Guccione invested $45 million into the property. The resort and its on-site casino drew celebrities, politicians, and wealthy international travelers, with caviar and lobster always on offer — there were even rumors that the pool was once filled with Champagne. 

But the hotel’s heyday didn’t last long. The casino went bankrupt within a year, and while the hotel stayed open for a while after, business slowly faded. During the Yugoslav Wars in 1991, the hotel stopped operating as a luxury resort, instead housing refugees fleeing conflict in the region. The Haludovo Palace finally closed in 2001 and still sits abandoned today. Its exterior remains largely intact, while the interior has crumbled and is covered in graffiti.

Grossinger’s Catskill Resort Hotel – New York

Tucked away in New York’s Catskills, Grossinger’s Catskill Resort Hotel was once the place to be, drawing travelers with its big-name entertainment, lively social scene, and just about every activity you could imagine. At its peak, Grossinger’s felt like a world of its own, especially during busy summer months, when families would return year after year. It was part of the Catskills resort scene (aka the “Borscht Belt”), a collection of lively vacation spots popular with New York City travelers that peaked in the mid-20th century. 

Famous entertainers like Jackie Mason and Jerry Lewis performed at the resort, and world-class athletes and Olympians even trained there, including championship boxers Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali. There were golf courses, pools, ski runs, and endless events. The resort also inspired the iconic 1987 film Dirty Dancing.

But as travel habits started to change and people began choosing other vacation destinations further afield, Grossinger’s slowly fell into decline and eventually closed for good in 1986. For decades, the empty pools, overgrown grounds, and crumbling buildings lent the former resort a frozen-in-time vibe, but sadly most of the resort’s buildings were demolished in 2018, and others were destroyed in a 2022 fire, leaving only scattering remnants to provide a window into the property’s fascinating past.