Not your typical tourist attraction, the ruins of the never completed $80 million Sheraton Resort are a series of derelict buildings on the tiny tropical island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. While there are plenty of beaches to visit, hiking, watersports and other things to do on the island, we found ourselves strangely drawn to this once nearly completed masterpiece. Today the ruins tell a tale of politics, organized crime, and a curse.
Sheraton’s Cursed Derelict Buildings
One look at the dilapidated buildings and we knew we had found what was labelled on our map as “Sheraton Hotel Derelict”. The sign on the gate said, “private entry, day tours only, see the blue house.”
Cautiously, we entered the property, visually scanning each of the desolate building before we noticed a blue shack across the street. Jeff headed across the street to pay, and I began taking photos. First, the goats, as they were right in front of me, then the first of the vacant hotel rooms.
“Hey!” I barely heard the shout over the engine of his motorbike as it pulled up alongside me. A short, hefty man jumped off the bike and I quickly explained that my husband had gone to the blue house across the street.
Without acknowledging the shack, he requested $5 each, and in exchange, he would share a story filled with organized crime, politicians, tribal land, and a curse. All resulting in 40 years of deterioration of a once $80 million property that never opened.
From the best of my recollection, I will share the tale here.
It was the mid-80s when Italian contractors were hired to build the $80 million Sheraton Hotel. Rather than using local labour, they brought in 360 workers from Italy. As one can well imagine, this did not please the local people, especially the Takitumu tribe, the keepers of the land.
The Italians soon built a 250-room hotel and were ready to develop the land. Their plan was to re-route the waterfront road around the complex and add a man-made lagoon from the sea where the original road sat.
The required government consent had to come from New Zealand, as the Cook Islands were their protectorate. At that time, Winston Peters was Minister of Foreign Affairs. Rather than granting permission, he threw them all out of the country. Our guide was dramatic in his storytelling and added that Peters discovered that they were in fact, Mafia. The abandoned hotel soon became a collection of derelict buildings.
Many years later, Hilton came in and tried to finish the job, but it was too late. The land had been cursed by a local from the Takitumu tribe. Hilton lasted only six months. They needed supplies from Australia. They gave $7 million to a representative who travelled to Australia to get the materials. But they never returned. (An interesting twist, in one version of the story, we were told it was a tribal chief who absconded with the funds, but this could not be verified.)
More Images of the Derelict Buildings
Now it sits, and visitors can walk through the grounds, and even into the chambers. As we walked through the vacant rooms, we imagined this would be the ideal setting for a horror movie, or a scary sleepover, or an overnight initiation challenge.
Rarotonga Accommodations
To date, there is still no Sheraton or Hilton on Rarotonga. However, there are plenty of great Rarotonga accommodation options. Check out the options here:
⇒ Find the best Rarotonga accommodation prices at booking.com Check Availability
Practical Information on Visiting the Sheraton Ruins
- Bring cash to pay for your entry.
- If you are offered a “tour”, take it. The story is even more interesting when told by a native.
- Wear shoes, and watch your step, there is broken glass everywhere.
- Don’t lean on balustrades, as many are missing.
- Be respectful of the belongings of a few people who seem to be living in the ruins.
More About the Derelict Buildings of the Sheraton
Want to know more, here’s the latest going on at the abandoned Sheraton resort:
- The ‘cursed’ resort of Rarotonga: Rundown beachfront property with mafia links for sale again (New Zealand Herald 2016)
- Abandoned Cook Islands Sheraton may open 30 years late (Hotel Management 2016)
- Curse of the Cook Islands – and a chance to turn derelict hotel into a tourist hotspot
(The Guardian 2017)
Other Rarotonga Activities
Rarotonga is a tropical paradise in the Cook Islands, a group of South Pacific Islands that are about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. Watersports, hiking, adventure, or relaxation, Rarotonga has it all. The snorkelling around the island is fantastic. Plus, there are plenty of other fun things to see and do in Rarotonga.
If you enjoyed this story, please share it on Pinterest:
Would you stop and take time to explore the derelict buildings of this cursed hotel?
Disclaimer: We worked with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. We were provided with complimentary entrances, tours and sample items to assist in the writing of this review. The opinions expressed here are strictly our own.
Capturing Rarotonga Snorkelling on the Olympus TG-5
Rhonda Albom
While it looks urban, it is in the middle of a tropical paradise and jungle.
Carol
What a wild story! Thanks for sharing. You’d think that all govt permissions would have been accomplished BEFORE spending millions to build.
Bill
Great story, goes to show you should never pi** off the locals. We have an unfinished hotel not so far from were I live seen it once in passing looks quite odd.
Handmade Jewelry Haven
Wow! That IS creepy!
How fascinating that they give tours in such a condemned set of buildings.
It surely would have been beautiful though!
Thanks for sharing!
– Lisa
Rhonda Albom
Our “tour” was completely self guided. We paid for entry and the story.
Bee Halton
What a great story and post!
Kanishka Acharya
I love to read spooky stories of abandoned buildings! The pictures are so creepy…
Indrani
Whoa what a story! So unfortunate everything was abandoned else it could have been a beautiful property.
stevebethere
Wow! that was an eyeopener very interesting and eerie at the same time 😯
Have a derelicttastic week Rhonda ➡
Emily
I am such a sucker for urban exploration! You are so lucky, this looks like it would be such an adventure!
Natalie
Wow ! This is both super creepy and super cool. I love touring places like this, Ive added this one to my ever-growing bucket list! Thanks for sharing the story too, so interesting.
Luci
That does look like a wicked place to go visit. I believe I would be able to go through the hotel with a group of people, during the daytime.
Medha Verma
Oh I just feel sad looking at those ruins and learning the story about how Sheraton was meant to open a hotel there but never could. I do love exploring ruins, and your pictures are really great to see inside the derelict buildings, especially the rooms. Pretty sad also that Hilton tried to take over and run the hotel but never could because of the ‘curse’. At least someone can make money from running tours inside it now 😉
Rhonda Albom
The whole experience was surreal.
Virginia Allain
I belong to several groups on Facebook that are about abandoned places. I’ll post this to those groups.
Fascinating story and pictures.
Rhonda Albom
Thank you. This is one of those unique places.
Carrie
Woohoo I am so glad the locals/New Zealand government kicked the Italians out before they could complete that monstrosity! It’s so rare that local people actually win against the forces of capitalist greed, especially on small island nations with less political power like this. Now if only the Italians could be forced to come back and clean up the mess they created of the local environment…
Rhonda Albom
Yes, I think it is good that the rerouting of the shore side road to not go through.
Jill Chapman
Very interesting! You never know what you’ll find when you travel. I have only lived at my current location for 20 years but a friend who has lived here all her life says that Indian burial grounds were disturbed in the making of the interstate here. It is numerically proven that the exit and area where the burial grounds are have had more accidents – and more fatal accidents – than any other area in our state. Curse? Maybe!
Rhonda Albom
That is pretty creepy.
Jenn and Ed Coleman
Wow, what a story. Definitely creepy but cool in an urban decay sort of way. It makes you wonder just how much work it would take to re-open the hotel. (or open in the first place)
Rhonda Albom
There are rumors of a $300 million investment from China coming.
Fiona Maclean
Fascinating and tragic. It’s the kind of thing we associate with a long-gone era, yet these were started within my own living memory. I’d love to visit the Cook Islands and find out more – there seem to be so many tales!
Rhonda Albom
Yes, things were done differently years ago.
Carissa
I would definitely explore this! I am always fascinated of a place that has abandoned and has a great story behind it. I would not miss to hear the story personally by a local there for a complete experience so going there must be the only way! Thank you Rhonda for sharing these useful tips!
Rhonda Albom
I got different stories from different people so this is the best combination and what seems to make sense.
Carol Colborn
What a sad story. Cursed for not honoring the kand and it’s people. I wonder why they built so much before trying to get permission?
Rhonda Albom
I can only think that they didn’t know the rules before they started.
Julie Kemp Pick
Hi Rhonda! You really captured the essence of the Sheraton Ruins. This resort had so much potential. It’s a shame that it never came to fruition. I agree with Linda that it’s incredible the ruins have become a popular tourist destination. Leave it to you to discover such a fascinating find!
Rhonda Albom
It is interesting to see Mother Nature reclaim the land.
Linda
What an interesting topic for a blog post. We often see derelict buildings on our travels. We saw so many abandoned projects in the south of Portugal. But we have not seen the Sheraton ruins on the tropical island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Amazing that they have actually turned this into a tourist site. But then, it seemed it did come with a colourful story.
Rhonda Albom
I don’t think it’s a “proper” tourist site as one person capitalizing on the curious people stopping by.
Tammy
Abandoned buildings give me the creeps, but that bathroom tops it all. Ewww! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
The whole place was eerie.
Tami
I’m always curious and will explore nearly any place I come across. So yes, I would walk through this old hotel during the daytime but not at night!! I do think it’s horribly sad, though, that so much time, effort, and money was wasted.
Rhonda Albom
Walk through at night? Not me either.
nicole
I visited when I was there in 2008. Its such a weird story but leave it to Winston to screw things up just like he is doing now. Raro is beautiful though even without a Sheraton or Hilton.
Rhonda Albom
Yes, the whole episode is quite weird.
Amy Franks
Gosh that’s a shame it ended like that. I wonder if they will put it down or leave it there?
Rhonda Albom
There are rumors that the Chinese are going to pick up the project.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – how very sad … really awful to see it left as it is without the dangerous items removed. The Italians sound like the Chinese now – who bring everything with them when they start a project. Must be interesting to see … and thanks for the tour around – cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
Yes, it was a sight.
Paul Pietrangelo
This is a creepy place. I was surprise that you even went into the place, The pool was amazing even the stools that people would have been sitting on them. I can picture the scene in my mind, music playing, people swimming in the pool and others sitting on the stools having a drink. Very interesting Rhonda. See ya for now.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
Yes, the place is quite creepy. You can see that the place was abandoned quite suddenly by the way things were just left in the middle of work.
L. Diane Wolfe
The show Hotel Impossible would’ve had a field day with that place. Such a waste but what a tourist attraction. I have a fascination for abandoned places – even have a whole board of it on Pinterest.
Rhonda Albom
I haven’t seen the show but it would be fun to see it.
Ryan Biddulph
Rhonda so eerie and neat! I love this type of stuff. From the stories to how nature takes over, to the goats chilling in the area, it just fascinates the heck out of me. Nothing like seeing the jungle slowly dominate any man-made structure. Makes one realize that nature always wins in the end. Far different reason but I recall seeing so many beautiful French mansions being overtaken by the jungle in Kep, Cambodia. Mold, vines, so interesting to observe. Reminds me of some of your lovely snaps.
Rhonda Albom
I loved the plants starting to grow up through the floors. I guess it’s what the temples in Southeast Asia started looking like when they were disused.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Fascinating! I’m surprised someone hasn’t set it up big time as ruins to visit and explore, complete with gift shop. Creepy and what a shame no one came in soon enough to finish it, cursed or not.
Rhonda Albom
The “tour” hasn’t been commercialized. I think that adds to the mystery.
Comedy Plus
That’s a lot of money to flush down a toilet. What a shame.
Creepy looking now, but I’d bet is was beautiful back in the day.
Have a fabulous day. ♥
Rhonda Albom
Yes, that was a lot of money, especially considering it was ~40 years ago.