11 One-Time Luxury Resorts That Sit Abandoned (5 of 6)

4. Penn Hills Resort – Pennsylvania, USA

What began as a tavern in 1944 eventually evolved into an expansive, kitschy resort known for being the ultimate honeymoon haven, complete with heart-shaped tubs and champagne-glass bathtubs. As tastes changed and newlyweds decided honeymoons on a tropical island had more appeal than spending it in the wilderness of the Poconos, the resort fell out of favor. It closed in 2009, and by 2025 every building had either been razed or burned to the ground by multiple instances of arson.

3. Banyan Tree Al Areen – Bahrain

This one didn’t last very long. Tucked beside a desert wildlife reserve, the Banyan Tree Al Areen opened in 2007 with private pools and luxe spa villas. It was an ambitious endeavor indeed, but a couple of landmines in the form of the 2008 global financial crisis and the Arab Spring prevented it from ever gaining traction among tourists. While some facilities were rebranded, most of the villas sit empty.