EERIE photos reveal the interior of the abandoned Grand Hotel Niagara – one of New York's most prominent landmarks.
the luxury The hotel hosted the likes of Marilyn Monroe, US President John F Kennedy and Frank Sinatra before it closed – but half a century on, it remains frozen in time.
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The Grand Hotel Niagara has been left to rust, with its gold columns, antique wallpaper and herringbone floors.
The ballroom – which would once host lavish events and star-studded parties – appears completely deserted, but the extravagant crystal chandelier remains hanging.
Many of the old carpets were littered with paint and dirt.
The entire spaces are completely sparse – with no furniture or decor left to fill the empty space.
Even what appears to be a kitchen looks terrible, with plastic sheeting trying to cover pipes and some tiles torn from the floor.
One of those who has explored the decaying hotel is photographer Matthew Christopher, who runs Abandoned America.
The urban explorer was given permission to enter the dilapidated hotel and take chilling photos.
He told The Sun: “The Niagara Hotel is a beautiful building and an impressive view.
“I will admit that I was disappointed that the upper floors had been completely stripped, while the lower floors, as beautiful as they were, were a hodgepodge of tools and equipment.”
The hotel was built by businessman Frank A. Dudley at Niagara Falls in 1924.
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Standing 12 stories high with a steel and concrete frame, the hotel was designed by renowned Buffalo architects Esenwein & Johnson.
Matthew described how “magnificent” the building was, with the hall and stairs still clinging to some of it date Through patterns and colors.
With nearly 200 guest rooms and conference facilities, the luxury hotel's main public rooms include a grand lobby, ballroom and main dining room.
Matthew spoke of its “amazing history,” which attracted prominent historical figures everywhere.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio are said to have stayed during the filming of the 1952 animated film “Niagara.”
The likes of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. also stayed at the then luxurious Grand Niagara Hotel.
But in the middle of the 20th century, the decline began because Niagara Falls no longer carried enough importance – as well as economic issues.
It was reportedly supposed to undergo renovations in 2007, but the site had remained untouched for years before.
Amedee owners Hotels & Resorts allegedly abandoned the property allowing it to fall into foreclosure after its parent company filed for it Bankruptcy.
The building was condemned by the Niagara Falls Code Enforcement Department after its heating system failed, causing water pipes to burst.
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Angry city workers shut off the water after the incident, leaving the building without running water or an effective fire sprinkler system.
Over the years, several investors have tried to acquire the Grand Niagara Hotel to no avail.
The most recent was in 2019 by a developer who has restored other historic hotels.
This stunning restoration was scheduled to cost $42 million and would have drawn millions in state and federal funds. tax Credits.
It was scheduled to open its doors in 2021, but was halted due to the devastating economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
Back at square one, the same developer and company resubmitted plans in June 2024 for a $50 million restoration of the stunning building — $8 million more than in 2021.
Matthew said he hopes the restoration plans are “successful” given how “amazing” the property is.
Reopening it “will help a lot in revitalizing the area,” he said.
The photographer added: “It is a huge building and Niagara Falls has been in the midst of a slow struggle to recover from the economic devastation.
“I think because of the work that's already been done, maybe this makes the rest easier to achieve.”
Inside the bullet-riddled “Bay of Abandoned Hotels” where the stars filmed
Next to Croatia's sparkling waters lie the ruins of a luxurious hotel complex that was once bustling with tourists.
But the resort now provides an exotic backdrop for sunbathers and even movies as its bullet-riddled walls crumble and hold nothing but debris and graffiti.
This ghostly complex bearing traces of Croatia's war history is located in the village of Kupari, a stone's throw from Dubrovnik's crowded beaches.
But as well as being watched by tourists, the ruins have been used to film the upcoming biopic Lee, about the famous World War II Vogue journalist Lee Miller.
According to local reports, this was one of several locations in Croatia where Kate Winslet and Jude Law filmed scenes last September.
With the Grand Hotel being the jewel in the crown, the site boasts several other hotels – Pelegrin, Goricine I, Goricine II, Kupari and Galeb – capable of accommodating thousands of guests.
The Grand Hotel opened its doors in 1919 after a forward-thinking Czech investor recognized the area's tourism potential.
From the 1960s to the 1980s, several other hotels appeared around it, largely funded by the army.
It then became a major attraction for the Yugoslav military elite and their families – Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito even had his own villa there.
Places in the hotel are becoming more difficult for ordinary vacationers – with rooms often given priority to those with military connections.
But when conflict broke out in the Balkans in the 1990s, the Yugoslav People's Army heavily bombed their valuable vacation project in an attempt to expel Croatian soldiers.
They then vandalized the hotels, which were luxurious, lit phosphorus bombs and looted the rooms.
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