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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 Hotel Derelict, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
This was to be the grand main entrance of the Sheraton Resort in Rarotonga.

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.

Sheraton Hotel Derelict, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Goats help to maintain the lawns around the empty hotel.
Sheraton Hotel Derelict, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Room after room, I was drawn into the strange macabre world.

“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.

Abandoned swimming pools at the Sheraton Hotel in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
The abandoned swimming pool had a swim up bar – you can see the bar stools in the water.

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.

Sheraton Hotel Derelict, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
The flood waters from recent rains seemed appropriate in front of the derelict buildings

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.

Abandoned bathrooms at the Sheraton in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
I think the bathrooms were the creepiest abandoned places on the resort.
Broken glass all around the abandoned resort in the Cook Islands.
There is broken glass all around the abandoned beach resort.
Solar water tanks on the roof of the abandoned hotel in the cook islands.
Solar water tanks still sit on the roof of some of the buildings.
Unfinished electrical wiring in the derelict buildings of the unfinished Sheraton in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Unfinished electrical wiring are just another feature of these derelict buildings.
Abandoned beach resort in the Cook Islands
While fascinating, it is one of the creepiest hotels I have seen.
Sheraton Hotel Derelict, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Plants grow through the floor in some of the rooms of the abandoned resort.
Sheraton Hotel Derelict, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Missing sections of the balustrades were a constant reminder of the dangers all around these old abandoned buildings.
Cows outside the derelict buildings of the creepy Sheraton hotel in the Cook Islands.
Cows graze outside the derelict buildings of the creepy Sheraton hotel in the Cook Islands.
Squatters use some of the rooms in the derelict buildings of the Rarotonga Sheraton Hotel
A few of the rooms had personal belongings suggesting squatters. Honestly, I don’t think I could sleep in this scary hotel. Could you?
Another abandoned room in the Sheraton Hotel Derelict on the Cook Islands
Another abandoned room amongst the derelict buildings.
Sheraton Hotel Derelict, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
I was surprised we didn’t find more graffiti.
Derelict bus on the property of the abandoned Sheraton Hotel in the Cook Islands
An abandoned bus.

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 

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:

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.

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Derelict buildings of the never completed Sheraton Hotel on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands

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 received complimentary entrances, tours and sample items to assist in the writing of this review. The opinions expressed here are strictly our own.

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Comments

  3. 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.

    Reply

  10. 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.

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  11. 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.

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  12. 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 😉

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  14. 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…

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  15. 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!

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  17. 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!

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  18. 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!

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  20. 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!

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  21. 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.

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  23. 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.

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  24. 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.

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  26. 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

    Reply

  27. 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

    Reply

  28. 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.

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  29. 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.

    Reply

  30. 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.

    Reply

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