ghosts of Glamour: The Rise and Fall of Uruguayan Coastal Hotels
Uruguay‘s atlantic coast once pulsed with the energy of a burgeoning tourism industry, particularly during the 1960s and 70s. The La Coronilla spa in the department of Rocha rapidly established itself as a premier beach destination, sparking a hotel boom. Though, shifting environmental factors and economic challenges led to the decline of several grand establishments, leaving behind evocative ruins that whisper tales of a bygone era. This is the story of three such hotels: Mesón Las Cholgas (later Hotel Fortaleza), Hotel del Lago, and Gran Hotel Ancora.
Mesón Las cholgas/Hotel Fortaleza: A dream Drained by the Tide
Opened in 1968, Mesón Las Cholgas quickly became a landmark in La Coronilla. Offering stunning sea views, a restaurant, and three swimming pools, it epitomized the coastal resort experience. The hotel thrived during the golden years of Uruguayan tourism, embodying the “vibrant energy of the 70s.” However, 1985 marked a turning point.The extension of the Andreoni canal, intended to drain the Bañados de San Miguel and the Black and White lagoons, dramatically altered the coastline. The increased water flow discharged onto the beaches negatively impacted water quality, leading to a “progressive loss of the tourist attraction of the spa.”
As La Coronilla’s popularity waned, mesón Las Cholgas changed hands in the early 1990s. Businessman Julio López acquired the property and rebranded it Hotel Fortaleza. López attempted to revitalize the hotel with a unique offering: camel rides across the Roche dunes, aiming to recreate a desert experience. Despite this unconventional effort, the business struggled financially. In 2005, the property was auctioned off by Banco República, purchased by Area Verde SA for US$160,000. Area Verde SA, a group of Uruguayan and Argentine investors specializing in judicial auctions as 2002, has left the hotel abandoned ever since. Today, Hotel Fortaleza stands in an “advanced state of deterioration,” a stark contrast to its former glory.
Hotel del Lago: A Victim of Economic Shifts
Further south, in Piriápolis, the Hotel del Lago presents another story of faded grandeur. Built in the 1930s,it was a symbol of the city’s early tourism boom,attracting a refined clientele.For decades, it flourished, offering luxurious accommodations and panoramic views of the bay. However, the economic instability of the late 20th century, coupled with changing tourist preferences, took its toll.
By the 1990s, the hotel had fallen into disrepair. Attempts at renovation were hampered by financial difficulties and bureaucratic hurdles. While there have been intermittent proposals for redevelopment, the Hotel del Lago remains closed, its once-elegant facade now weathered and crumbling. Local residents recall a time when the hotel hosted glamorous events and served as a social hub, a memory now tinged with melancholy.
gran Hotel Ancora: A Silent Witness to Time
Located in the coastal town of Punta del Este, the Gran Hotel ancora offers a different, yet equally poignant, narrative. Constructed in the 1950s, it was a prominent fixture in the city’s burgeoning tourism scene, catering to a mix of international visitors and affluent Uruguayans. The hotel boasted a prime location, modern amenities, and a lively atmosphere.
Though, the late 20th and early 21st centuries brought increased competition from newer, more modern hotels in Punta del Este. The Ancora struggled to adapt to changing market demands and fell into a state of neglect. While not as visibly dilapidated as Hotel Fortaleza, the Gran Hotel Ancora has remained largely unused for years, its windows darkened and its once-vibrant spaces silent. It stands as a testament to a different era of Uruguayan tourism,a silent witness to the passage of time.
These three hotels - Mesón Las Cholgas/Hotel Fortaleza, Hotel del Lago, and Gran Hotel Ancora – represent more than just abandoned buildings. They are tangible reminders of a vibrant past,cautionary tales of economic shifts and environmental challenges,and poignant symbols of lost glamour on the Uruguayan coast. Their stories serve as a reminder that even the most enduring structures are vulnerable to the forces of change, and that memories, like the echoes of laughter in abandoned halls, are often all that remain.
