Jerusalem Hills 'Ghost Hotel' Remains Empty After 40 Years
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
A hotel in the Jerusalem Hills has remained empty for 40 years despite multiple ownership changes and approved plans. Recent reports suggested the Fattal hotel chain would be involved, but the owner now doubts the project's future. Local residents recall exploring the mysterious abandoned building. The hotel's completion remains uncertain as the owner and Fattal defer responsibility for its advancement.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A Jerusalem Hills hotel project has stood empty for 40 years, never hosting guests.
- The 'White Elephant' project has seen multiple developers and plans since the early 1990s.
- Approved planning documents detail a hotel on 180 dunams, but a building permit is pending.
- The property owner now expresses doubt about the project's future progression.
- Local residents recall the abandoned structure as a mysterious childhood exploration site.
A hotel project in the Jerusalem Hills, located near Kibbutz Tzuba, has stood unfinished for four decades, never having hosted a single guest. Despite various ownership changes, approved plans, and promises of a luxury hotel, its future remains uncertain. The project, often referred to as the 'White Elephant,' has seen multiple developers and plans since the early 1990s, including a Swiss investment group aiming for a spa and retirement home, and later, the company Bnei HaTichon in 2005. Most recently, reports indicated that the Fattal hotel chain was set to enter the project, but the property owner now casts doubt on its progression. Planning documents show a program approved in July 2025 for a hotel on approximately 180 dunams, with 22 dunams designated for hotel facilities and 23,700 square meters of building rights. However, this approval does not constitute a building permit, and the owner's statements suggest work may not commence. Local residents describe the abandoned structure as a mysterious part of their landscape, a place they explored as children and where police reportedly conducted training exercises. Some segments of the TV series 'Asfur' were also filmed there. While Fattal emphasizes that the responsibility for advancing the project lies with the developer, the owner states no intention to proceed, leaving the hotel's completion in limbo.