Hotel Golfinho used to be a flamboyant hotel with 7 floors and 265 rooms.
It is abandoned for about 15 years by now but it has recently found a
buyer.
It is abandoned for about 15 years by now but it has recently found a
buyer.
The old logo:
the reception desk
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On the left a building with showers and toilets (the swimming pool lies behind).
On the right we have the hotel.
On the right we have the hotel.
There used to be a club in the basement with a window which overlooks the pool.
The outside bar next to the swimming pool
Back wall - overview
now:
Detail of the back wall.
The roof....
Each and every window in this hotel has been smashed.
Except for these....
Things started to go bad way before the crisis kicked off.
(mis)management?
For the people looking for pics of Hotel Golfinho:
They recently put a fence around the hotel so I won't go back anymore.
I still have unedited pics of the basement (the club and the recreation area) which I will add later on (when I have time).
I know what I like about Golfinho but I'd very much like to hear why you are interested in this hotel.
I'm quite surprised by the number of people googling this place in spite of the fact that it has been closed for about 15 years...
Did you spend your holidays here and is this a nostalgic trip?
Are you fond of the building style? (the outside really looks like a painting to me)
Did you want to book a room here for your next holiday?
I'd love to know! :-)
Hi,my boyfriend and I have just returned from Lagos (today in fact!) and this hotel fascinated both of us. We were staying around the corner in the Dom Manuel hotel (lovely!) and walked 5 mins towards Praia Dona Ana when we came upon this huge abandoned building.
ReplyDeleteWe were looking over the fence and my bf wanted to go in to explore. We made it to just past the reception area when I got the creeps.
As the building was such a state we honestly thought that it had been abandoned during the building stage as the developers had run out of money! Only once I came home and googled 'abandoned apartment lagos' did I realise it was actually a running hotel once upon a time.
I could not believe the difference between the old and new photos.
It's a feeling and thought provoking building with lots of history - I've seen loads of comments on the net from long ago honey mooners who had hoped to revisit the now crumbling hotel.Such a shame.
Nicolette
Hi Nicolette,
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity that you got the creeps :-)
The hotel is visited by curious people and 1 homeless guy as far as I know...
I spoke with a local who has worked in the hotel (animation) and with several people who went there to party. The hotel was indeed a real phenomenon.
It's really huge! I visited it several times and even bought a head torch to explore the basement.
I kept on discovering more hidden areas. The former kitchen and the mini-club. And the conference room. It was really amazing.
I have more picture (of the club as well). Will post them but can't say when (I have no internet in the woods) ;-)
Thanks for your reaction Nicolette.
I hope you had a nice holiday and that you enjoyed the stunning cliffs over there.
Cheers!
Thanks so much for these pics. I have also just returned from Lagos (Aug 13) and have a fetish for this sort of thing lol. Unfortunately me and my friend couldn't find an entry point and it was very busy in that area during the day with it being peak season and all. Fascinating though, would love to see peoples holiday pics from this place in full action! Shame its now shut.
ReplyDeleteSinead
I have just returned from Lagos and also was fascinated by this building, Myself and a few friends went in at night for a look around as there wasnt anyone around and the place has been gutted, no wiring or piping left anywhere. I wonder if it will ever be renovated as it would take alot of money to bring it up to even a 1 star standard given the condition its in now.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I was looking for this hotel to go and stay again this year. This once so wonderful hotel has been closed for 15 years??? This is so scandalous! This was the most amazing hotel for miles and was of such a very high standard! The hotel was also so very busy!
I remember that it had carpeted walls and such a beautiful Restaurant and Bar. I also remember the Children's Games room down in the basement which had various Games machines and I remember it also had 2 Tenpin Bowling lanes! Why on earth did this beautiful hotel become such an eyesore! I am pleased to hear it has been repurchased and I hope it is renovated back from the original building now and not knocked down for a new building! So many fond memories!
I went with my Brother Danny who I think was about 7 at the time, I was 9 years old, with my mum and also some friends of Mum. Gosh I cant get over how bad this place has become!!! trust me its really, really sad.
We must have stayed there around 1977 I would think. The hotel was so posh! Immaculate! amazing! and now ...well
I do hope the new buyers make it into something really special again and I also do hope it retains the name of the Hotel Golfinho. I would like to book and go there again once it has been restored! I truly hope this happens
Gregory Long
Hi again!
ReplyDeleteJust an update about this amazing hotel!
I think the hotel is coming back and I have found this:
Have a look and its gonna be amazing if it does!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hotel-Golfinho/106767939449421?fref=ts
Greg
I just returned from Lagos and me and a friend discovered this place by chance. It was wonderful walking about inside! It was quite quiet so we climbed down a ladder into the pool area. I got a few pics but nothing that wonderful as I was still a bit scared with the noise of the wind and the echoes! I'd love to see some photos of what it was like back in the day, it looks like it was once a really fun place! It's quite sad that it's been left to decay like that :( but we did have a great time exploring! Thanks for the pics!
ReplyDelete- Maria
Hi,I'm from England,my family spent about 6 or 7 holidays here from around 1978 through to 1986.
ReplyDeleteIt was one of the best hotels in the area at that time.I went back to Lagos in 2005 and could not believe what Isaw.Such a shame.I hope it will be restored and be opening again.
I stayed here as a child in 1967 when my activist family left Apartheid South Africa, We were the only people in the luxury hotel at Christmas time, and the large staff doted on us. They'd ask us every day what we wanted on the menu for that day, and to come outside and choose which duck, chicken, goat we wanted to have cooked! A strange and fascinating place, even then.
ReplyDelete