December 6th 2024.
As the new year approaches, plans are underway to celebrate in a unique and explosive way in Georgia. The former Ramada Plaza hotel, a well-known landmark in the US, is set to be imploded as part of the New Year's festivities. This hotel holds a special place in history as it was once visited by the legendary Elvis Presley and has ties to the controversial Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.
Located in Macon, Georgia, the 16-story hotel has been vacant for the past four years. Situated in the northern part of downtown, it is just a block away from the Ocmulgee River. The hotel was designed by the renowned architect, Morris Lapidus, who is also known for his work on other iconic Miami hotels, including the Fountainebleau. The doors to this beautiful hotel first opened in 1970.
While the hotel boasted of having famous guests like Elvis Presley, it also faced its fair share of controversies. It was accused of aiding Hussein in hiding Iraqi oil profits. Despite these high points, the hotel was unable to achieve financial success. In 1991, the New York Banking Department took over the building, suspecting it to be involved in a money-laundering and fraud scheme by the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
Despite its ups and downs, the former Ramada Plaza hotel never managed to thrive financially. In 2023, the building was bought by Macon-Bibb County for $4.5 million during a federal bankruptcy process. And now, the city-county has approved a plan to hire a demolition firm for an additional $2.6 million to bring down the hotel. The implosion is scheduled for January 1 at 9 am and is expected to be a spectacular sight.
Macon Mayor Lester Miller shared his excitement about the upcoming implosion, stating, "We acquired this property to blow it up. We're going to spend a little money to tear that thing down. But what you'll see that's replacing it will be 100 times better than what it's doing right now." While the plans for the future of the hotel's location are still being discussed, the mayor mentioned the possibility of redeveloping the city's riverfront and making it more vibrant.
However, not everyone is thrilled about the demolition. Russ Henry, a vestry member overseeing Christ Episcopal Church, which is located just two blocks away, expressed his concerns, saying, "It's an eyesore to the whole community, and we would love to have something else there. We just want to make sure that our church doesn't get blown up on our bicentennial."
As the countdown to the implosion begins, the former Ramada Plaza hotel stands tall, awaiting its explosive fate. While it may be the end of an era, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter in the city's history.
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