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The Abandoned Four Seasons Resort, Barbados

The Abandoned Four Seasons Resort, Barbados

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As the insatiable demand for vacations continues unabated, the construction of hotels, guesthouses, and resorts is accelerating at a remarkable pace. Yet, this industry remains highly susceptible to global calamities, where bold aspirations can swiftly turn into devastating setbacks. Want a proof? Look no further than the unfinished Four Season Resort in Barbados, a hotel property left in disrepair for years now.

By: Omri Westmark

Date: 01:14 12.12.24

Last Update: 03:17 17.12.24

Abandoned Places Beaches Lodges and Hotels Rural Barbados North America & The Caribbean

Nearly every major city around the world is home to at least a dozen or more white elephants whose unsightly presence induces headache among municipal planners. This phenomenon, however, extends far beyond the urban realm.

On Barbados’ Paradise Beach lies a cluster of weather-beaten, decaying structures, remnants of what was once envisioned as the luxurious Four Seasons Resort, designed to be the go-to place for the world’s ultra rich.

Long before decrepitude dominated the area, the beach was home to the Cunard Paradise Hotel, which during the 1980s, was a popular getaway for vacationists who came here for various activities, including horse-riding, sunbathing and watersports. In the early 1990s, the seaside complex was shut down, and a little while later was purchased by several real-estate developers who intended to demolish and turned it into a luxury resort.

Originally conceived as the crown jewel of Barbados’ tourism scene, the project began in the mid-2000s with the backing of high-profile investors, including figures like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Simon Cowell. Plans included a 110-room hotel and 35 private villas boasting features like wine cellars, infinity pools, and round-the-clock service under the reputable Four Seasons brand.

Abandoned Four Seasons Resort Barbados 1

The main entrance to the complex

photography by: Omri Westmark

Abandoned Four Seasons Resort Barbados 2

photography by: Omri Westmark

Abandoned Four Seasons Resort Barbados 3

An abandoned toilet room

photography by: Omri Westmark

Abandoned Four Seasons Resort Barbados 7

photography by: Omri Westmark

Abandoned Four Seasons Resort Barbados 14

The sea-facing structures

photography by: Omri Westmark

Abandoned Four Seasons Resort Barbados 17

photography by: Omri Westmark

Abandoned Four Seasons Resort Barbados 4

photography by: Omri Westmark

Abandoned Four Seasons Resort Barbados 5

photography by: Omri Westmark

Things started to go amiss as the global financial crisis transpired in 2008, something which severely impacted funding and villa sales. Construction ground to a halt in 2009, leaving a skeletal framework behind. Even with government-backed financial guarantees and rescue efforts, persistent delays and the loss of investor confidence sealed the project’s fate, preventing it from ever becoming the tourist attraction it was meant to be.

Since its abandonment, the unfinished resort has been reclaimed by nature with every passing day. So much so that overgrown vegetation, rainwater puddles, strewn debris, graffiti, and occasionally wandering monkeys now dominate the place instead of wealthy tourists. To make matters even worse, copper gutters have been looted, and a fire in 2018 further deteriorated the already crumbling structures. While a new investor acquired the property as recently as 2022, meaningful development has yet to resume.

Though the 32-acre grounds are considered by many as an eyesore, the silver lining is that this run-down resort has found a new life as a pilgrimage site for aficionados of urban exploration.