Abandoned Governor’s House Hotel set for demolition
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – It was once the premier place to lay your head in comfort while traveling through Alabama’s capital city or to celebrate major milestones like being elected governor.
Times have changed, however.
Parties inside the Governor’s House Hotel’s convention space long ago ended. The 9-hole golf course hasn’t seen a putt in years, nor have conversations from the area’s who’s who wafted through the horse-back riding stables, restaurant, or lounge.
For years, the only noticeable activity at the overgrown property, spread out over a massive 65,608 square feet, was the occasional wail of sirens from responding firetrucks, returning to extinguish a fire set in one of the complex’s 197 rooms.
That is, until now.
Bright yellow demolition equipment is now beginning to roll through the fenced-off hotel’s grounds, and soon, they’ll begin leveling the entire structure, even filling in the hole that once featured a famous, glimmering Alabama-shaped swimming pool.
For years, business owners urged city leaders to do something with the property, but since it was stuck in limbo thanks to a state tax lien, the city was powerless to do anything except watch it fall further into disarray. That changed in 2022 when the Alabama Department of Revenue accepted a $100 purchase offer from the city.
The city announced Wednesday that it will demolish the eyesore as part of a larger $6 million demolition plan aimed at cleaning up blighted properties across the city.
“This property has been abandoned for some time,” said Chief Building Official Marcus Dean. “It is just one of several properties that we have identified as part of a comprehensive commercial demolition plan.”
What’s next? Only time will tell, but the city is looking.
“We are excited about the opportunities that this particular piece of property allows for the City of Montgomery to consider future economic growth and development,” Dean said.
Taking down the Governor’s House, built in the mid-1960s on East South Boulevard, will cost the city about $279,000.
Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!
Copyright 2025 WSFA. All rights reserved.
