Exploring the Abandoned Garden Hotel in Illinois

I recently explored an abandoned hotel with everything left behind. It shut down in May of 2019 due to a basement flood. The owner of the property never fixed the problem & abandoned it completely.

in September of 2019 the Winnebago County Health Department condemned the property noting unsafe condition. Liens have been placed on the property because the owners reportedly owe thousands of dollars in taxes and other fees.

This was not my first time here. In 2020 I stumbled on this place with most of the glass in tact, rooms untouched, alcohol left behind, and so much more. Now the vandalism and mold is so bad I don't see any hope of this place ever reopening.

I wish I could show you what it looked like in 2020. Unfortunately, I was not taking videos back then and the property remained sealed up until recently. I was actually caught by the police at the end of my explore. Please do not go and cause more damage to the property. You will get charged with trespassing.

The city has been fighting to demolish the place but legal battles keep it locked. Does the owner know his property looks this bad?

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About: DecayingMidwest creates abandoned & exploration videos on this channel. Subscribe to see what was left behind, forgotten, and decaying in the Midwest!

DISCLAIMER: Exploring abandoned and decaying places is very dangerous and can lead to injury or even legal consequences if you are not properly prepared. Get permission from the land owner before exploring places like these and be extra cautious when exploring alone. Wear the proper exploring gear and always let someone know where you are.

The code of urbex (urban exploration) is to leave the location just as you found it. Don't steal anything, vandalize, or spray paint. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.

[Solaceon]

I used to work here back in 2017. I was 20, a clueless kid hired through a voc rehab program. When I worked there, half of the place was abandoned and the other half was not. It was my job to clean up the abandoned half as well as the lobby and common areas (pretty sure the room with the Pac-Man graffiti was once an arcade, that wallet no doubt came from the nearby lost and found). The place was always dead quiet, eerie, never busy except for sporting events and I saw the signs of disrepair even then. I was eventually fired for "wandering", but in reality I think I just saw something they didn't want me to see without knowing it.

Always thought the place was shady. Both surprised and not at all that it's come to this fate. So surreal to see a place I worked not even that long ago in this condition... and that it's gonna be demolished soon. Thank you so much for this tour, it's been fascinating. I remember every sign, chair, and corner like it was just yesterday. Those stairs and that banquet hall sucked to vaccuum.

[Mr.clintontoney]

I’ve been in the restaurant business for over 35 years. Looking at all of the equipment just sitting going to waste is so heartbreaking. There is well over $350k worth of equipment in that kitchen. Not including the utensils. That walk in freezer is a good $75k alone.

[bigloveusa]

We live right by this hotel. Used to be a Holidome years ago. It was dead along time ago. Under new ownership, they tried to get new business. But, it never worked out. The basement has been flooded for years too. They have it all bordered up. But, obviously, did not keep the idiots out. I figured it has to be bad inside. I never thought it would look that bad. It will be torn down eventually. Sad to see so much damage done for nothing.

[katb]

I worked at this hotel for 10 years.. I breaks my heart to see this video of all the vandalism. What a shame!! It started out as a Holiday Inn and was so popular and nice back in the day. Then shortly after 9/11 it was bought by some people from Pakistan and changed to a Ramada Inn and that's when the decline began. They eventually began getting rid of the employees that knew the guests and businesses so well and were a big draw to the hotel for repeat business. That harmed the business, then they also stole money from the bus company that was a daily regular stop for transportation to Chicago area airports. The bus company ended up moving their passenger drop off/pick up to a gas station/travel center about a mile up the road. The hotel eventually stopped paying the bills and let more staff go. Then they closed it. I moved from the area but heard that some investment group came in and wanted to try to reinvigorate it but that didn't work and at some point the city took it over trying to make a go of it. Truthfully, the building had quite a bit of water damage to it as it was built near a creek and when the creek flooded, so did the hotel basement. Imagine that happening over and over for 30 plus years... I remember the basement being flooded several times during my 10 years there and a hose with a pump running up from the stairs and out the closest door pumping water out. I just saw in local area news that the hotel is going to be torn down. It's probably for the best but it's really sad and the end of an era with many awesome stories to tell of area company Christmas parties, baby showers, wedding receptions, sports team banquets, and celebrities that stayed there, and so on. We had a great bar, a great restaurant, and great banquet rooms. At one time we were all like family there when we had a crew that really clicked. I miss the good times.

[Aerialists_journey]

I love that you dont add any jump cuts to any of your videos it just really allows us to get a full view of the places you visit❤

[mjarboesdf]

This could be a homeless persons paradise! Seriously, there are so many homeless people that need quick shelter on nights with bad weather. They can come here to at least have a bed and cover from the elements. Maybe even find a room that doesn't have broken windows and close the door for protection. Safer than sleeping in the streets.

[dlane]

I seen Before pictures of this place & was awesome. The 90s vacation spot for many families. Sadly families don't vacation like they used to so many amazing old hotels are left to rot.

[teresah.]

I'm very surprised no one has not backed up a 🚛 truck and loaded up the nice furniture in the lobby, and the bar stools and other furniture plus the lamps, office supplies, TV's, fridges and microwaves.
Hotels and motels seem to leave all behind instead of calling shelters and letting them have mattresses and linens AND not letting the employees have anything left behind. It's all just a tax right off for them.
Also surprised you didn't run into any homeless staying in there... it's a nice setup.

[PinetopJackson]

I've heard so much about this place! Multiple tales of homeless taking over the top floors, and being very aggressive about defending their digs from explorers

[johnnehls]

Pisses me off to see the utter disrespect these idiots have done to this place even if it is abandoned. It was bought by an overseas company that did nothing with it then the pool rotted out and they walked away from it

[jvonesh]

This hotel used to be a very nice one back in the day, sad to see it looking this way cause of stupid people damaging what isn't there's. This hotel was even nice when it was Garden Hotel briefly.

[denisesmith]

You show everything I would want to look at!! Thank you!!

[KingPrincess]

Honestly, though, I do think that if a building like this is going to be demolished, the usable items like blankets and pillows and mattresses should be donated to the local homeless shelters

[sweenytwain]

I stayed in this hotel for 3 months rite b4 they closed down.
The owners were horrible people and raised my rent in the end and i was practically the only permanent resident here. Sad too see it in this condition.
It was a beautiful hotel.
Thanks for posting

[lung]

Its honestly crazy to think about the good these buildings could do. The potential to help people going through such a rough time. Greed is such an enemy of the people

[operationurbex]

I started watching this video the other day and didn’t have time to finish it. Great video. Food looked nasty!

[EJStoner]

I live not far from here. I've stayed here for reunions and been to events here. This is very sad. Absentee owners squeezed every cent out of the place and then abandoned it . So much waste.

[controversialdrift]

I live about 2 blocks from there, it's so crazy to see this on YouTube only days after I was there

[ceejay]

I’m impressed the smokes are still beeping..

[Blahbevava]

Sheesh I just swam in that pool something like 7-10 years ago! They opened up the pool in the summer for anyone to come in and swim for $5 a person. Problem was the pool had NO heat at the time so it was freezing cold! The hot tub was nice though. The place had a funny feeling to it at the time. It felt like being back in time a little from when I was a kid in places like that in the 80's and early 90's but had this strange sense of dread about it too. You could tell something in the air was off like it wouldn't be long before the place was closed down and abandoned completely. A relic lost in time. What a shame too as I love the layout and style of these older motels around a pool like that. That line of windows now broken were all a darker tinted shade. Kind of gave off a funny vibe about them like the place was once crawling with life and energy at one time but was now like something waiting to die. I'll bet the place was a lot of fun back in it's prime. Hate seeing nice places like this destroyed!