If you grew up in the Capital Region, you certainly know what was traditionally called ‘The Holiday Inn Turf’ very well. The massive indoor courtyard, Fenders Nightclub, Playfields Sports Bar, not to mention the events and conventions that took place on a regular basis. To sound a bit like a commercial, it wasn’t just a hotel, it was a destination.
In 2015, the hotel was sold and changed ownership a few times after that. Most recently it was known as the Red Lion Inn.
Then the pandemic hit in 2020 and the hotel shut down operations and never returned. Urban Explorers have given video tours of the vacant property. Some parts of the hotel are completely untouched and preserved in time, while others have fallen victim to decay, vandalism and graffiti.
On Thursday, the Times Union reported that the town of Colonie had issued a number grievances to the hotel’s current owner. Based on the amount of break-ins, the owner boarded up entrances on the first floor, but many repairs and security measures still need to take place.
The property had recently been used by homeless people as a makeshift shelter and a fire started on January 21st.
The Times Union was able to track down the owner, Ron Xiong, who didn’t say much, but insists there are plans to make something of the abandoned space.
We are working to bring it to its (former) glory,” Xiong said. “Sometime, we are going to have a beautiful property.”
Proposed plans submitted in May of 2022 included renovations for a new hotel and possible residential units, but that’s about as far as it got.
feature photo: Bright Sun Films via YouTube
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