Georgia County Uses Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Buy Legendary Hotel Just to Blow It Up: 'I Think a Lot of People Are Going to Have a Problem With It'

A Georgia county spent millions of taxpayer dollars to buy a long-vacant downtown hotel only to demolish it at midnight on New Year's Eve to clear the site for future development.

The 16-story hotel Macon, Georgia, which was built in 1970 and designed by renowned architect Morris Lapidus, once accommodated high-profile guests like Elvis Presley.

Due to financial mismanagement and international fraud scandals, the hotel closed in 2017 under the name Ramada Plaza.

Macon-Bibb County purchased the property in 2023 for $4.5 million with the intent to demolish it, citing structural issues, AP News reported.

On Thursday, the county commission approved a $2.6 million contract with Target Contractors to implode the hotel, bringing the total investment to $7.1 million.

"We acquired this property to blow it up, and I think a lot of people are going to have a problem with it," Mayor Lester Miller said, according to WMAZ.

The demolition is set to take place during New Year's Eve celebrations. After the demolition, the site will be cleared and restored within 180 days, with plans for the area to include mixed-use developments and green spaces.