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The Golden Eagle Motel, Stowe, Vermont

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KOA campgrounds date back to 1962 and are known for their distinct A-frame office buildings. Out of the 500 KOA Campgrounds locations that still exist in the United States, it's not surprising that 1 or 2 have become abandoned over the years. Pictured is a KOA office building in Lynchburg, Virginia that has since burned down.

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Atlantic City's now-abandoned Golden Nugget, pictured in promotional photos from the 1980s

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Abandoned motels in Cairo, Illinois

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Atlantic City's abandoned Golden Nugget, pictured in the 1980s and 2021

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It’s hard to believe a hotel this big could be abandoned.

But it is - and it sits directly on the Atlantic City boardwalk. Opened in 1980 as the Golden Nugget, closed in 2014 as the Atlantic Club. In the late 80s, it was the Bally’s Grand and in the 90s, the Hilton.

As of 2023, there were plans to renovate and reopen the casino but after the new owners discovered that the hotel was in much worse condition than anticipated, they have held off for now.

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I've been trying to showcase Motel Revivals in between my regular posts. Today's non-dead feature is the Sapphire Motel of Bozeman, Montana. 

Before it was the Sapphire, it began as the Glen Motel in the 1940s, became the Travelier Motel in the 1950s, the Stardust Motel in 1970s and the Royal 7 Motel in the 1980s.

The motel operated as the Royal 7 for the next 40 years, seeing very few changes. By the year 2021, the property had become outdated and was in desperate need of restoration. The lack of upkeep created a unique opportunity in that much of the motel was still original.

When brothers Shiloh and Jake became the new owners, they invested significant time and resources to bring the motel back to its original character. The rooms and lobby showcase mid-century modern furniture, the original neon sign has been restored and the vibe is definitely that of a 1950s motor inn. By the time Shiloh and Jake took over, the motel had been in their family since 1972! Pictured are before and after photos of the sign, lobby and rooms.

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The Foodergong Lodge originally opened in 1960. After closing as a hotel, it reopened in 1983 as The Terraces, an 80-bed drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation facility, primarily for adults, before shifting its focus to juveniles in the late 1990s.

It closed its doors in 2009 as Summit Quest Academy, a behavioral facility for problem youth, amid concerns from area residents and the state Department of Public Welfare. In 2011, it reopened as Retreat at Lancaster, an inpatient mental health clinic.

Pictured are photos of it as the Foodergong compared to a present day view, pulled from a virtual tour on the current clinic's website. Located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

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The Como Motel of Richardson, Texas, pictured in the 80s, 2023 and 2024.

The Como was the longest continually operating motel in Richardson until it closed in August 2023. Famously, it was the site of the affair, conducted by Candy Montgomery and Allan Gore, that resulted in the axe killing of Gore’s wife, Betty. The story was retold in the HBO Max series Love & Death and Hulu’s Candy.

Locals have been organizing to try to save it. The Save The Como movement reported that as of 2 days ago, the motel is still standing.

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The Balboa Motel of Deming, New Mexico closed 4 years ago. It doesn't appear to be abandoned as the property is still maintained.

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Heart shaped tubs from Penn Hills Resort are for sale on Facebook, contact Marysia Paruzel for pricing. Pick up in NYC.

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1960s vs 2020s

This blog isn’t just an archive of abandoned motels but also of how motels have changed through the decades. Which interiors do you prefer? Do you think the newer photos look sterile and boring or clean and inviting?

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The former Paradise Valley Lodge of Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania now operates as Memorytown Lakeside Inn & Cottages. Nice to see a Pocono hotel that is still alive and hasn't been destroyed by drastic renovations.

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Kings Grant Inn, Gilford, New Hampshire

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After being vacant for over 10 years, the former Kings Grant Inn is officially up for auction.

This resort dates back to the 1930s. From 1952 to 1978, it was owned by Ralph and Margarete Krauss, who turned it into an all-inclusive, four season resort. In the late 70s, they sold their hotel to new owners who didn't keep up with many of the amenities that made the Krauss's resort so popular. A few years later, the Kings Grant Inn went bankrupt.

After closing, it was taken over by a local business owner who turned it into a strip club called Lakes Region Cafe & Tavern and later, Mardi Gras North. It finally closed for good after being raided by the Gilford PD. Four of the strippers working there pleaded guilty to drug charges. 

Today, much of the property is in disrepair and the main building hasn’t been used since the strip club closed in 2012. I’ve always wondered what original features, if any, have been left behind.

While I haven't been inside any of the buildings, I did come across one sweet touch while in the pool area: Ralph and Margarete signed their names in the concrete, likely when the pool was first being constructed. Still there, almost 70 years later.