MACON, Ga. Macon-Bibb County has unveiled a dramatic plan to welcome the New Year by demolishing a vacant 16-story hotel in an explosive midnight event. The decision, approved by the Macon-Bibb County Commission on Tuesday, will cost up to $2.6 million and marks the culmination of efforts to repurpose the blighted site.
“We acquired this property to blow it up,” said Macon Mayor Lester Miller, speaking to WMAZ-TV.
The hotel, originally opened in 1970 and once hosting notable guests like Elvis Presley, has long been a subject of controversy and financial troubles. Its most infamous chapter came in 1991, when the New York Banking Department seized it as part of a fraud and money-laundering investigation tied to the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI). The bank was accused of aiding Saddam Hussein in hiding Iraqi oil profits and supporting Oliver North’s arms deals with Iran.
The hotel, last operating as the Ramada Plaza, closed in 2017 and has remained a decaying structure near the Ocmulgee River, just a block from downtown Macon. Despite its design by renowned architect Morris Lapidus, known for Miami Beach landmarks like the Fontainebleau, Mayor Miller confirmed the building is beyond repair.
“It isn’t structurally sound and can’t be renovated,” Miller said. “We’re gonna spend a little money to tear that thing down. But what you’ll see replacing it will be 100 times more valuable than what it’s doing right now.”
While many have welcomed the demolition, Christ Episcopal Church, located less than two blocks from the site, has raised concerns. The church, which houses a historic sanctuary built in 1851 and stained glass windows, will celebrate its 200th anniversary next year.
Russ Henry, a member of the church’s vestry, expressed cautious optimism about the project.
“It’s an eyesore to the whole community; we would love to have something else there,” Henry said. “We just want to make sure that our church doesn’t get blown up on our bicentennial.”
Mayor Miller assured that nearby property owners would be consulted to ensure safety during the demolition process. “We want to protect them,” he said.
Redevelopment on the Horizon
The city has yet to finalize plans for the site’s redevelopment, but officials are optimistic that the cleared land could play a pivotal role in revitalizing Macon’s riverfront.
As the clock strikes midnight on December 31, the implosion of the former Ramada Plaza will symbolize a fresh start for Macon-Bibb County as it enters 2025 with hopes for transformation and growth.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
