The Hotel Niagara is a vacant landmark hotel in

Niagara Falls Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York (s ...

Niagara County, New York Niagara County is in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 212,666. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word ''Onguiaahra''; meaning ''the strait'' or ''thunder of ...

. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 2008.

History

Early years

The hotel was built by

businessman Frank A. Dudley and operated by the

United Hotels Company United Hotels Company of America, also known as United Hotels Company, was a chain of upscale hotels in the United States. The company was headquartered in Niagara Falls, New York, with administrative offices in New York City. The company was foun ...

. The 12 story, steel frame and concrete hotel was designed by prominent Buffalo architects Esenwein and Johnson and was built in 1924 (cornerstone laid on March 24, 1924). The hotel was dedicated on April 8, 1925 and opened for business the following day. It is located 1/4 mile from the

Horseshoe Falls Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three waterfalls that collectively form Niagara Falls on the Niagara River along the Canada–United States border. Approximately 90% of the Niagara River, after diversions for hydropower generation, flows ...

, it is one block from the

Seneca Niagara Casino Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel is a casino in Niagara Falls, New York, United States. It was built by the Seneca Nation to compete with Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Formerly known as the ...

. It has nearly 200 guest rooms as well as convention facilities. It has been known by various names including The Hotel Niagara; John's Niagara Hotel; Park's Inn; International; Days Inn-Falls View; and Travelodge Niagara Falls. ''Note:'' This includes an
''Accompanying photographs''
/ref> The hotel's primary public rooms include the lobby, ballroom and main dining room and as of March 2016, have survived largely intact. They feature elaborate ceiling plaster moldings and columns, gilded capitals, faux limestone walls, oak and emerald terrazzo floors.

2007 closure and subsequent restoration plans

The property closed for renovations in 2007, which never took place. In 2010, the property was foreclosed by the State Bank of Texas, which expressed no interest in ownership, after the owners, Amidee Hotels & Resorts, abandoned the property and allowed it to fall into foreclosure after their parent company, Amidee Capital Group, LLC, filed for

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code ( Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, w ...

. The building was condemned by the Niagara Falls Department of Code Enforcement after the heating system failed, which caused water pipes in the building to burst. The city shut off the water when that happened, leaving the building without running water or a functional fire sprinkler system, which constitutes several code violations. In April 2011, the property was sold at a foreclosure auction for $1,250,000 to Jamil Kara, a developer from

Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. He told the ''

Niagara Gazette The ''Niagara Gazette'', also referred to as ''The Gazette'', is a morning daily newspaper published in Niagara Falls, New York, United States, which covers several parts of Niagara County, including the Town of Niagara, and the City of Niagara ...

'', a

newspaper, that he planned to convert the building into a five-star hotel and condominium. In September 2011, Toronto developer Harry Stinson bought the building from Kara for an undisclosed amount, intending to restore it. His company, Stinson Developments, estimated they would finish renovations by summer 2013. However the work was never completed. Stinson sold the building in 2015 to Reception Hotels & Resorts, for $4.4 million. Reception similarly announced plans to renovate the structure. they later announced that it would become a

Radisson Hotel Radisson Hotels is a multi-brand hotel chain with a worldwide presence. Its brands include several using the Radisson name, as well as other brands like Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Country Inn & Suites. In June 2022, Radisson Hotel Group ...

on the completion of a $21.5 million makeover. In March 2016, the

New York State New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...

-run

USA Niagara Development Corporation The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

agreed to purchase the property from its current owner, Harry Stinson of JSK International Corp. USA Niagara Development Corp. plans on issuing a new request for proposals to complete renovations of the building. The purchase price was described as "up to $4.4 million," with funding for the acquisition, inspections, insurance and property holding services, up to $5 million, will be provided through Gov.

Andrew Cuomo Andrew Mark Cuomo ( , ; born December 6, 1957) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 56th governor of New York from 2011 until his resignation in 2021. A member of the Democratic Party and son of former governor Mario Cuomo, ...

's state-financed "

Buffalo Billion Buffalo Billion is a New York state government project led by former Governor Andrew Cuomo that aims to invest $1 billion in the Buffalo, New York area economy. The project uses a combination of state grants and tax breaks to spur econo ...

" development initiative. It was announced in December 2019 that the hotel would be restored by Syracuse developer Ed Riley, who previously restored the historic Hotel Syracuse as the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. The restoration was to cost $42 million, and was set to receive $10.6 million in state and federal historic preservation tax credits. The hotel was to reopen in 2021 as part of the

Tribute Portfolio Marriott International, Inc. is an American multinational corporation, multinational company that operates, franchises, and licenses lodging brands that include hotel, residential, and timeshare properties. Marriott International owns over 37 ho ...

division of

Marriott Hotels & Resorts Marriott Hotels & Resorts is Marriott International's brand of full-service hotels and resorts based in Bethesda, Maryland. As of June 30, 2020, there were 582 hotels and resorts with 205,053 rooms operating under the brand, in addition to 160 ...

. It was to have 160 rooms, three restaurants, banquet facilities, and a rooftop lounge. The restoration was stalled by the economic impact of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, and the NCIDA withdrew its tax incentive package in 2021, when the owners found themselves unable to secure loans for the restoration. In June 2024, Riley's Brine Wells Development LLC resubmitted its plans to restore the structure, at a cost of $50 million.

In popular culture

It was reportedly the home of

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...

and

Joe DiMaggio Joseph Paul DiMaggio (; born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, ; November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), nicknamed "Joltin' Joe", "the Yankee Clipper" and "Joe D.", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career ...

while filming ''Niagara'' in 1952. Former guests of the hotel include

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the first Roman Catholic and youngest person elected p ...

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, actor, comedian, dancer, and musician. At age two, Davis began his career in Vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the Will Mastin Trio, which t ...

Joseph Cotten Joseph Cheshire Cotten Jr. (May 15, 1905 – February 6, 1994) was an American film, stage, radio and television actor. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original stage productions of '' The Philadelphia Story'' (1939) an ...

, and

Al Capone Alphonse Gabriel Capone ( ; ; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American organized crime, gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-foun ...

Gallery

Image:The Niagara Entry Jun 09.JPG, The Niagara, Entry Details, June 2009 Image:Closed Hotel Niagara in Niagara Falls, NY IMG 1324.JPG, Entrance to the hotel Image:Niagara Falls Highrises.jpg, Hotel Niagara adjacent to the

United Office Building United Office Building, now known as The Giacomo, is a historic Mayan Revival, a subset of art deco, skyscraper in Niagara Falls, New York, US. Description The United Office Building was designed by architect James A. Johnson of Esenwein & Jo ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Niagara, The Hotel buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state) Hotel buildings completed in 1925 Buildings and structures in Niagara Falls, New York United Hotels Company of America Art Deco architecture in New York (state) National Register of Historic Places in Niagara County, New York Skyscrapers in New York (state) Skyscraper hotels in New York (state)