Iconic Abandoned Hotel with Weird History

Originally a Holiday Inn opened in 1973, this building was later a Days Inn before being owned and run by followers of Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 90s. It has been abandoned since 1997. One of Houston's most popular urbex and graffiti spots.
Sources // Further Reading:
www.houston.or...
www.tshaonline...
www.houstonarc...
www.nytimes.co...
www.houstonpre...
www.houstoniam...
blog.chron.com...
Topics:
#abandoned #holidayinn #houston #texas #abandonedhotel #abandonedtexas #abandonedhouston #urbandecay #downtown #downtownhouston #oilbust

[@bethblackheart]

I see that building everyday from my living room in a high rise. The only thing that persists is a tree at the top, that someone survives year after year. Spooky.

[@LYNDONGOLDEN]

I have been watching that tree for years!

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

My friend used to stay at Houston House on the 23rd floor and it overlooked the Gulf freeway and you can see that thing and it looked like you could see people moving in it because it didn't have no windows but it had curtains it was so weird

[@uberyoutuber3892]

Lol, I saw the thumbnail and was like "Wait...I know that ugly ass building!"

[@danieltx7066]

I hate hate hated driving past that building when I lived in Houston. If I’m not mistaken, that building across 45 had someone drive their car through the brick wall of an upper level of a parking level. Man… this is all taking me back to nights at Sammy’s @ 2016 Main. What a time!

[@taustin266]

Good stuff, keep it up. Can’t wait to see what area of Houston you cover next. Should maybe do Clayton Homes before it gets torn down.

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

You ain't lying they should have torn that place down 10-15 years ago at least

[@bryfunkenstein]

It didn't stay abandoned long enough. People were still living in parts of it while other parts were being knocked down

[@Tornado1994]

@ It was on June 5,1998 when The City of Houston and Harris County Condemned the Property and Ordered it Abandoned.

[@derekcolvin9944]

Amazing, 50 years ago this Holiday Inn was the largest Holiday Inn property in their chain

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

That's crazy! It seems like even in the 70s this wasn't a great part of downtown

[@TheWizardGamez]

@@ScottDaileyKZbinthe 70s wasn’t good for anyone

[@Tornado1994]

@ Yup. Jefferson and St Joseph Parkway(Calhoun) was NEVER a Good Part of Downtown Houston, it was the 4th Ward. Even then, it was growing seedy. I wonder how long that Metro Transit Center has been across the street from it? I'm Guessing since the Early 80s.

[@elray2446]

When it was a Holiday Inn. On it's last days I went to a Christmas party there with Stewart and Stevenson.

[@carywest9256]

Who'd ya go home with?Stewart or Stevenson or both?

[@Tornado1994]

@ Probably 1983. Post Alicia. One of the Main Reasons why this Holiday Inn Select was Converted and Changed to a Days Inn in the Summer of 1984 is because of Hurricane Alicia which caused severe damage to its Basement Storage and Loading Dock Shipping Areas. They repaired the Shipping Dock and Corridor, but NEVER repaired the Basement area(It got flooded out and destroyed by Debris and suffered Massive Rust and Lime Damage). Prior to Alicia, Wilson Hotels,Inc was becoming disappointed with the property especially its Seedy Location(It had been built during the tail end of the Oil Boom in 1971) as between Jefferson Ave and Calhoun/St Joseph Parkway downtown, the 4th Ward of Houston was becoming pretty seedy and was turning off tourists. My Family and I stayed there on route to San Antonio in July 1993 when it was still the Days Inn Downtown/Cullen. You had to drive up from the Ground as the Lobby was on the 5th Floor. You couldn't get to it unless you drove through the Parking Garage.

[@FerdinandDGr8]

Gosh I love your channel. Thank you.

[@kckgirl78]

I remember it as a DAYS INN. When I came to Houston in 1980, there were no less than (5) buildings going up simultaneously. I still have fond memories of downtown Houston of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. ❤❤

[@Tornado1994]

It didn't become a Days Inn until '84. It was a Holiday Inn Select before that.

[@carywest9256]

You a snowbird,aka a yankee?

[@bc.7077]

A very interesting video! I have always been weirded out by the giant abandoned shell of a building in the middle of downtown Houston every time I drive through it, but thankfully I stumbled upon this video explaining what it is. Keep up the good work. For some reason KZbin thinks you are speaking Vietnamese when you turn on the auto-generated captions. Guess that's just the KZbin algorithm at work lol. The subtitles are pretty funny, though, at one point it says "paint is verified banker which ends all you've seen."

[@kaymiller77]

It’s across from the YMCA and when you’re on the top level of the parking garage at night, looking at that building is just creepy as hell. Wish they’d demolish it.

[@Tornado1994]

Its an Eyesore.

[@kaymiller77]

@ true

[@rollinndowe6213]

The main reason that the abandoned Days Inn remains is that it contains massive amounts of asbestos throughout the building. Because of the asbestos and the proximity to Interstate 45 that passes very close by, the building cannot simply be knocked down. Instead it will need to be dismantled from the top floor to the bottom, a cost that makes it unfeasible. Thus, it sits and deteriorates.

[@csnide6702]

until it falls on somebody........

[@Tornado1994]

Ah, that doesn't make any sense. The City's Asbestos codes were ratified in 1971. The Same YEAR the Holiday Inn Select(Which is what this 801 St Joesph Parkway building used to be until 1984 when it became Days Inn ) was built. In 1971, Asbestos in Harris County was banned from Building use and Fiberglass was used instead. The MAIN Buildings affected by the Banning of Asbestos were Hotels and buildings built before 1969. Most Famously, the Shamrock Hilton in TMC which had opened in 1949 and had been deactivated in 1986 and Demolished in '87. So you're comment isn't true. The Building isn't Rotting. Its a Real Estate Sales issue. The LOT has a Value of $16 Million, so what keeps happening is that Real Estate Firms kept buying the property and lot and keeping LYING about Redevelopment plans. So no, Asbestos isn't the issue. Its GREED. Shamrock Hilton was LOADED with Asbestos and used to be RIGHT off The 45, 288 and 610 Outer Loop. They Demolished it without a problem on August 17,1987.

[@Tornado1994]

@@csnide6702 It ain't Asbestos. When the Building which used to be 801 Calhoun St was built in 1971, Asbestos use in Harris County,TX had JUST been BANNED. Before it was Days Inn, it first opened as a Holiday Inn Select. Hurricane Alicia actually destroyed and damaged majority of its Underground Shipping Corridors and Employee Parking Garage in August 1983, but it was NEVER repaired especially in the days before FEMA was Federal and thus, they completely closed off and abandoned using its Basement Areas forever. After Hurricane Alicia, Wilson Hotels sold the property to Franchise Systems,Inc(Days Inn's Parent before Wyndham) and in June 1984, The Holiday Inn Select became the Days Inn Downtown Houston and its address was changed to 801 St Joesph Parkway,Houston TX 77002. It actually was no longer a Days inn by 1994, Red Lion Hotels alongside Yogi(The Beatles Hindi Guru who was into Real Estate at the time brought it in Early 1993) and it became a Red Lion Inn, later name changed to "Heaven on Earth Inn" until October 1996 where it became the "Houston Plaza Inn" Housing Project. The City of Houston and Harris Co CONDEMMED the Building and Shut it down in June of 1998 after multiple stings by the HPD that revealed Crack House and Prostitution in the Tower, along the fact that Multiple Floors were Inoperable, and Plumbing was non functional. It's Sitting and decaying because The Lot itself is worth $16 Million. The Tower is utterly WORTHLESS and worth $0. But the problem is, is that if it were Demolished, the Lot Value would be cut in half to $8 Million. Its REDEVELOPMENT that keeps being suggested, but never attempted as Greedy ass Real Estate Owners keep profiting off of Lot sales of the property.

[@downtowngary6646]

Did you test it for asbestos?

[@hinahanta]

I remember when the Rice Hotel was sitting abandoned, beautiful 14 story brick building built in 1914, only made it in once on the first floor, it was dark and creepy!

[@EndangeredMooseknuckle]

Your uploads are fantastic.

[@101skaterat]

I always see if new videos come out on this place good stuff man!!

[@drycreek86]

I stayed in that hotel when it was a Holiday Inn. It was very nice.

[@briand3459]

Great video. Love the aerial shots. Who was brave enough to paint the graffiti at the top of that building?

[@ReigningWomban]

I know right?!

[@rickrichter9445]

That’s nothing, somebody painted their name down that center wall on the OUTSIDE facing I-45 !!! One letter on their name on each floor. Crazy, just crazy!

[@braden2345]

Got in this building in my urban exploring days back in 2018. This building and the Old Houston Post on Polk were some my most memorable explores. Amazing views of south downtown including the old Enron tower. The security back then was a joke. Multiple points of access. The building is very dangerous though lots of Random holes in the floor dropping multiple floors. I could tell other people were in the building I could hear them talking and screaming. Since then they beefed up security, added cameras, buffed all the graffiti and now I’ve even noticed they are removing all those walls in the center.

[@bradmetcalf5333]

I do enjoy your videos. Thank you for uploading this

[@rustygates7551]

Love it! We need to get you inside for a tour!

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

TBH I'd love that!

[@101skaterat]

People still go their it's just sealed off in a lot of areas so gotta get creative for one thing to get in because of all the Wood boards sealing off the place. Their is a few Homeless people who live inside the building still I think and heard a story of a dude having a running in with one of them in the swimming pool area but nothing major happened. I'd suggest if you do explore bring a buddy or two and keep it lowkey. Cops have caught people but the spot is popular to the point cops just kinda let you off with a warning I guess but be Careful ! I had one guy telling me he went and couldnt find a way in.. had one guy try to tell me the stairs were taken out then had another guy say it's still their ! Then I see other people from at couple of months saying they just went.. so words of advice just be careful people always seem find ways into the place. Have heard others say theyve tried doing some sort of construction a few times.. the place is sketchy but I'd suggest having a game plan before you get their. Stay away from the open elevator shafts wood pieces always get removed and their is a hole in the electrical room where the elevator used to be so dont fall down that avoid it.. lol me personally never been their but I'd love to go with someone one day and have talked to many people who have gone their and have spoke to a few people who have visited the hotel back when it was opened. I research this place a lot because it's just weird .. wouldnt say its haunted but just has that weird vibe.. I've seen people go at night but I'd suggest going in the day and if you do go at night bring flash lights and some self defense tools. I think the cops keep an eye on the place.. so anyone on KZbin telling you this and that probably dont want you to go.. but just saying yall be safe it's had many people inside that place and heard it's easy to get in.. but they just keep going at it sealing off the place dont give up though people have got in still so dont give up.. if it takes too long to find an entrance I'd probably leave . Just keep a low profile be safe and yall should be okay.

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

There's nothing in that building whatsoever but concrete all the wire copper Windows everything's gone it's been ran up in so many times just like Northwest Mall that's why they have security in the parking lot now and the fence out there

[@jdp6167]

Great as always!

[@W5NEH]

Heck yeah! I love passing this building. I go down the pierce elevated at least once a week.

[@DangerDays05]

Yo, keep up the great videos! I enjoy them a lot

[@gabrieljanke1908]

I’m just wondering what they are going to do with this Holiday Inn/days and that’s been sitting up abandon in Houston

[@AlbaDoggy]

Huh. Haven't explored downtown in years. I used to ride the metro a lot before I got my first car in 2016. I remember this building looking like the quick shot of it with full glass windows (some missing). Now I have to go look at it again but without any windows it's super unrecognizable. Like a completely different building.

[@catinthechat01]

Maharishi was guru to the Beetles! When they bought the hotel in 1993 they renamed it Heaven on Earth Inn. Before they stripped it in 2017 it was basically the world's largest trap house.

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

Know that title belongs to Northwest mall parking lot in 18th adjacent to it

[@stephenhuzar3645]

Great videos, Scott. You should do one on the original NASA buildings, before the Manned Spacecraft Center was opened in Clear Lake. Holler at me if you need pointers.

[@loading876]

Where at

[@stephenhuzar3645]

@@loading876 there’s about 12 buildings mostly around Telephone Rd, one downtown and one near UH main campus. The building that was NASA Manned Spacecraft Center HQ for two years is now the Houston Parks and Recreation HQ.

[@stephenhuzar3645]

www.nasa.gov/history/60-years-ago-the-manned-spacecraft-center-makes-houston-its-home/

[@toddm5337]

I remember back in the 80s 81-82, I used to play drums in a band, we played down the lobby, it was a Holiday inn then, it was fun and it was a nice place, it's a shame to see it in the shape it is now 😞

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

This is awesome! I'd love to find someone who lived there in the heaven on earth days

[@highlymedicated2438]

you still in a band? Im trying to get the band back together again. I like to party.

[@johnsmead5096]

Beirut Hilton lol

[@rodneywashington2017]

It should be demolished, and a 5 star or greater residential and hotel 2 tower combo should be built there. 820ft hotel, and 800ft residential.

[@JohnSmith-pt5sg]

People would sneak up to top a few years back and shoot fireworks off, was nuts.

[@MichaelAPerez-oj1mk]

Nice. Always Wondered what that building was. Hope they can figure out what to do with it.

[@3243_]

I think I and my folks stayed there once back when it was a Holiday Inn.

[@gofast3209]

Well done!!

[@meeraa3329]

Dangg I spent an hour trying to figure out where this building is and how come I’ve never seen it…turns out you could see a corner of the building and garage straight from my balcony hahaa never noticed it

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

LMAO hard to miss on 45 - I thought everyone had seen it!!

[@edwardndriskoll]

Hahha. When i first moved to Houston. I know it was a days inn by the sign. Thanks bro. Ive been reading into the citys history. Like tracing down the old trams line etc. A1

[@meliodassinz5020]

Shessh been here so many times alll da wayyy up

[@dorianclark6]

I went to party in this building when it was the Days Inn. The building was poorly kept and most of the elevators didn't even work.

[@ali_shwegbruh]

ive tagged that

[@mtut]

Thanks for another great video. I used to work in a nearby tower (Leland FB) and would see people running around on the roof - kind of a nerve-wracking sight and at the time (2015-16 mainly) a lot of people (not necessarily homeless) were using Kush and having weird incidents like one where a relatively well-dressed young man just started seizing on the sidewalk in front of me; there were also dazed people wandering into traffic and it all was kind of like, more harmful to them than anyone else but there felt like a tragedy could be right around the corner. Or you could just get maimed by a piece of Dazed Inn glass falling on you on the sidewalk; probably the only thing worse than all the grackle shit. Those were the days! ..... On a different subject, you've probably thought of it already, but the Exxon building nearby (in several of these shots) is another story of a building that has been vacant for a while. Not as long and it's not such an eyesore - it's actually got some charm and at least appears to be in better shape - but also a reminder of how fickle the fate of buildings can be in downtown Houston. There's been some hopeful news this winter that the Exxon building is going to be redeveloped for apartments, but we'll see if they successfully complete the project. It's going to cost a fortune. But would be nice to see something preserved for once amongst all the demolition. And maybe that's the intrigue of Dazed Inn - somehow, the seemingly most-implodeable building seems to be protected and preserved in spite of the fact that seemingly nobody wants it. Beautiful, wanted buildings - even people's historic homes - get destroyed all the time. By the storms and the floods? No, by the pursuit of profit and the love of narrow homes that are all stairs. That's walkability? Then on a different track, the Astrodome is ... also in a strange limbo for something that arguably should be the city's crown jewel; the stadiums that followed it are mostly gone, but what's the confusion? So much happened there and it's still standing. There are a lot of parallel stories to tell and what they all add up to about the architectural ethos of Houston is probably a confusing mess. I hope we figure it out. It can't be all destruction and generic stuff yuppies will hate after they turn 35.

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

Love this comment! I've definitely seen some wanderers in that building. A large part of why I started the channel was because I wanted to document places before they get demolished!

[@nosc0]

@@ScottDaileyKZbinwhich building is the Exxon building?

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

@@nosc0 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExxonMobil_Building

[@getyerkix]

There should be one of these for the Celestial Penthouse Suite at what last I saw was a Crowne Plaza and once was the Astroworld Hotel. That Suite used to be where Judge Roy lived. At the very top of what he created.

[@nunyabussiness4054]

I don't know about now but 15 or so years ago the top floor of the Astroworld (then Crown Plaza) hotel was still intact though not being used. I got to roam around and see all the different suites.

[@dhille7]

A big issue with redeveloping that building is that it has very low ceilings with no opportunity for overhead utility chases - mostly air conditioning and wiring.

[@mark52111]

Low floor-to-floor height, most likely correct, like most hotels. Yep, and that would definitely be a challenge for a future design team for turning building into (most likely) apartments. Lots of challenges with renovating old designs into new ones and still meeting current code. Not impossible. But also, the cost to demo of this building can't be overlooked. I think most developers would want to take this building down and start from scratch with a modern design that will provide maximize return on investment. As is, this building would likely need some tax incentives to make "the numbers crunch". Would be a lot easier and less expensive to start with an existing parking lot or similar property.

[@JohnPatterson-kz8jr]

I've seen that building.Maybe you can answer this for me. There's a building in Downtown Houston that has a lighted Blue Cross*(*Not the insurance company) om the side. Do you know what it's called?? Your reply is appreciated.😮😅😊😢

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

I believe you're talking about 2000 Crawford which had a cross but it was removed a few years back! It was part of St. Joseph Hospital.

[@helloworld5182]

Why has the city not ordered that it be torn down? I had to walk past the eyesore for years when I worked downtown. Visitors have received a very bad impression of the area.

[@edwardndriskoll]

Yo. That same guy made Heavenly Mountain in NC. Weird. He was all over.

[@csnide6702]

Good to see the City Of Houston takes urban blight so seriously ... ! If it were banning abortion rights or books they don't like they would be all over it......

[@karols432]

I kind of like it the way it is haha...Among the gleaming skyscrapers built with money from keeping the world's lights on stands this monument to Houston's grit and realness, especially when you see that Southern sun setting through its hollow shell 🔥

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

No Houston had real grit before they completed the metro rail for the super bowl in the early 2000s I don't know if you remember downtown back then but you didn't go on fannin and main Street after dark it was bad back then it was like being in the hood

[@Tornado1994]

@ Downtown Houston in the Early and Mid 90s was a Mixed Bag. I went through it as a Kid and Teen several times. By 1994, the Building looked like a Low Rent Housing Tower and had become the Heaven on Earth Inn. Since Hindis brought it with Yogi, they quit using the 19th Floor for Superstitious purposes and moved the Building Entrance down onto the Southwestern Ground level of the Tower.

[@joshhhjonesss]

Great video!

[@kevinbradshaw1420]

I believe that's where they had us stay while processing in the military. I stayed there twice in 1997. It was still called the Days Inn when I stayed there. The television was stolen from my room.

[@Tornado1994]

It was the "Houston Plaza Inn" in 1997. It was deactivated by the City in June of 1998.

[@kevinbradshaw1420]

@@Tornado1994 Yes, I was thinking of a different hotel.

[@mikewilson9236]

I lived in this hotel in 1994 each floor had a little bit of everything - and i mean if you had the money u got anything u wanted on any floor

[@Tornado1994]

By '94 it was the Red Lion/Heaven On Earth Inn.

[@mikewilson9236]

@Tornado1994 yes it was Heaven on earth

[@kendalson7100]

Redevelop it. Don't tear it down, if it's possible to bring it to code, keep it and do it up really big. It is Texas...

[@carywest9256]

Legalize casino gambling, turn a profit quick!

[@BoneItis639]

Back in 2020, I went up to the top with a few buddies. Had a backpack full of beer, and we started drinkin. Left a bit after that, there were some Mexican kids up there waving around Glocks.

[@TheWizardGamez]

I didn’t know the galleria was that old

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

Galleria 1 is real old the part where Macy's in Foley's used to be over there by sage that's the first part of the galleria they built

[@californiamade5608]

Houston having an abandoned tower 😂😂

[@beyond_civilization]

Great stuff, Scott! I was just researching this hotel for a future project of mine, and I was amazed to find out about the previous plans for the "transcendental meditation center". You just can't make this stuff up! 🤯😂

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

Thanks! It's definitely been down a weird journey!

[@dark12ain]

I still like seeing this building thinking they will do something awesome and cool with it once a suitable buyer comes.

[@JohnPatterson-kz8jr]

Yes,that's the building.TABunch.😮😅😊😢

[@Abe-t8m]

Just paint it green, it’s that far off from any other Holiday Inn

[@uhcrz2063]

There no way to get in anymore :(

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

If there's a will there's a way the windows are boarded up on the ground floor the people are always going in there

[@buzzkincaid5521]

Has this property been shopped on a global level, to builders from across the world?

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

It's been for sale off and on but I think they wanted too much money for it

[@TheWizardGamez]

I’ve been waiting for it to be demolished. But it’s just there. Year after year

[@plawson8577]

It was shut down in June 1998. NOT 1997.

[@christinedenise7844]

Close enough.

[@bingbong9844]

Didn’t they tear it town?

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

I drove by on Sunday and it was still there!

[@DavidlovesVodka]

"INN SANITY"

[@kingofsalty9224]

Houston's own Cecil Hotel, Netflix needs give Scott a call.

[@californiamade5608]

Yeah no.

[@californiamade5608]

Houston could never replicate LA’s landmarks.

[@leofromthe9159]

ROWDY !!

[@jessem7556]

Joel Osteen is buying the building and it will be new site of OSTEEN UNIVERSITY.

[@TisDana]

Are you serious?

[@jessem7556]

@@TisDana McGuire Dvelopment got the contract. 80% of building the university, 20% dorms and housing. 35 countries participating.

[@kaymiller77]

😂 are you joking? If so, that was hilarious.

[@MiguelitoD770]

Fake news lol.

[@Dr.ZoidbergPhD]

Update 2023: it was nought and is basically lofts now. Super modern, but kept the original busted-up sign on top of the building (odd choice)

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

I believe you're thinking of Central Square which is just across 45. Another fascinating place!

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

​@@ScottDaileyKZbinexactly what I was thinking

[@erich84502a]

Odd religious group

[@Mrs.Doubtfire007]

Make subtitles available in ENGLISH NOT VIETNAMESE!!! Why would you even make them in Vietnamese?! Nobody speaks that language

[@cbalducc]

Plenty of people in Houston speak Vietnamese.

[@shonnymac6862]

Beruit Hilton thats funny!

[@hinahanta]

I remember when the Rice Hotel was sitting abandoned, beautiful 14 story brick building built in 1914, only made it in once on the first floor, it was dark and creepy!