Mysterious Jerusalem Forest Hotel Remains Unfinished After 40 Years
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
A luxury hotel project in the Jerusalem Hills, known as the "White Elephant," has remained unfinished for 40 years. Despite approved plans and past involvement from the Fattal hotel chain, the owner now expresses no intention to complete the project. Local residents recall the mysterious abandoned structure as a childhood playground, with some reporting unusual activities on the site.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A Jerusalem Hills hotel project has been unfinished for 40 years, despite approved plans.
- The owner currently has no intention to advance the project, casting doubt on its completion.
- The Fattal hotel chain stated that project advancement is the developer's responsibility.
- Local residents recall the abandoned hotel as a mysterious childhood playground.
- The site has seen multiple ownership changes and failed development attempts since the 1990s.
A hotel project in the Jerusalem Hills, intended to be a luxury resort, has stood unfinished for four decades, with its future now uncertain. Despite approved plans and past promises of opening, the current owner's statements cast doubt on the project's completion.
The "White Elephant" hotel near Kibbutz Tzuba has seen multiple ownership changes and various development plans since construction began in the early 1990s. Initial attempts by Swiss investors in the early 90s and a later acquisition by Bonai HaTichon in 2005 failed to bring the hotel to fruition.
Planning documents show progress, with a plan for a hotel on approximately 180 dunams, including 22 dunams for hotel facilities and 23,700 square meters of building rights, approved in July 2025 and published for effect in November 2025. However, plan approval does not equate to a building permit, and the owner's remarks suggest work may not commence.
Local residents describe the abandoned structure as a mysterious landmark and a former playground. Roi Walach, 25, a resident of Giv'at Ye'arim, recalled childhood explorations of the deserted corridors, noting strange occurrences like seeing donkeys and finding bullet casings, suggesting police training exercises took place there. The site was also used for filming parts of the TV series "Asfur."
While reports indicated the Fattal hotel chain's involvement, the chain stated that the responsibility for advancing the project and completing the building lies with the developer. The owner has expressed no intention to proceed with the project, leaving the hotel's completion in limbo after forty years.