6 Urban Hotels That Carefully Transformed Abandoned Buildings Into Luxury Stays

The vaulted Grand Hall of Asher Adams, Autograph Collection renovated beyond its former glory.

Asher Adams, Autograph Collection

New hotel developments can spark resistance and ignite community backlash, as seen in Boca Raton, Florida, recently. The developer plans to replace a downtown post office, small retail buildings and a public parking lot with a 12-story hotel and retail complex. Residents, interviewed by The Coastal Star, argue the scale would be overwhelming, too tall and too bulky.

But not all hotel projects erase what came before. Some developers repurpose empty landmarks into luxury stays that preserve structure, celebrate heritage and revitalize neighborhoods without sacrificing identity.

Whether it is a textile mill, a church, an underground parking garage, or a mortuary, each tells a story of reinvention without obstruction. Much like how historic castles are carefully preserved and adapted for modern use.

From Textile Mill To Luxury Boutique Hotel In Athens, Georgia

Rivet House is in Athens, Georgia, within the Southern Mill development, a 160,000-square-foot campus of restored factory buildings.

The luxury boutique hotel was born from a three-story, timber-framed structure that was a long-abandoned denim and apparel factory, built between 1890 and 1902.

The building had fallen into serious disrepair due to roof collapse, shattered windows and overgrown interiors before James Whitley gave it a second life.

“I’ve always loved history, and these old mills are an important piece of the history of Athens. While their time as mills has passed, they still have a rich story to tell,” said Whitley, owner and founder of Rivet House, in an email interview.

“I’d always thought Athens was missing a hotel offering that captured the unique character of the town, and this building was a perfect fit to weave that upscale, boutique hospitality offering into the fabric of Athens,” he added.

The meticulous restoration began in 2020, preserving the heart-pine beams, original masonry walls, freight elevator doors and other industrial elements, while outfitting the space with modern touches. The style of Rivet House blends the rugged industrial past with warm, contemporary luxury.

From Cotton Factory To Modern Micro Hotel In Tampere, Finland

On the other side of the world in Tampere, Finland, the Finlayson Industrial Area tells a similar story.

The Finlayson cotton factory, once the largest textile mill in the Nordic countries, fueled Tampere’s industrial growth for more than a century. When production ended in the 1990s, many of its red-brick buildings stood abandoned.

Over the past decades, the Finlayson buildings have been carefully restored and reimagined to house offices, cafés, restaurants, shops and museums.

Among the newest additions is the Uumen Hotel, opened in spring 2025. This modern micro-hotel concept has transformed part of the former factory into compact rooms with contemporary design, shared lounge areas and a rooftop terrace overlooking the historic brickwork.

“Our model is built around a core question: What do travelers truly need – and what creates unnecessary strain on both their wallets and the environment?” said Eetu Rahkola, owner of Uumen Hotel.

From Abandoned Parking Garage To Capsule Hotel In London, United Kingdom

An abandoned underground car park, one of the least glamorous structures, in London’s West End, was reimagined as the Zedwell Underground Hotel Tottenham Court Road.

Instead of demolition and rebuild, developers transformed the concrete shell into a capsule-style property in the heart of busy Piccadilly Circus.

“The idea started with a simple question: how can neglected urban spaces be reimagined into something of value? In central London, where space is scarce and expensive, disused buildings such as underground car parks are more common than people realise. Rather than building from scratch, we saw an opportunity to transform one of these forgotten sites into a hospitality experience that aligned perfectly with Zedwell’s philosophy,” explained Halima Aziz, head of hotels at Zedwell, in an email interview.

Zedwell offers more than 700 soundproofed rooms known as ‘cocoons‘. The design strips away clutter and focuses on clean lines and natural materials.

There are no windows and no TVs, but rooms are equipped with high-quality essentials such as advanced air-purifying systems and full soundproofing. The result is a calming space where guests can truly rest and recharge.

“Most guests are genuinely surprised when they discover it was once a car park. But that transformation has become part of our identity and reinforces our mission to rethink urban spaces in meaningful ways. Many say the underground setting actually enhances the cocoon-like feel of the rooms, and a true escape from the energy of the city above,” Aziz added.

From Furniture Store To Community Retreat In Savannah, Georgia

Cohen’s Retreat is another example from Georgia, this time in Savannah.

The building was originally the home of philanthropist Percival Randolph Cohen, later served as a dormitory for Savannah State athletes and eventually became a furniture store. It was abandoned in the 1980s until Colleen Smith purchased it at an auction in December 2011.

“This building has always held a special place in my heart. I remember visiting as a child and then, sadly, watching it fall into disrepair,” said Smith, owner of Cohen’s Retreat, in an email interview.

“When the opportunity came to purchase it, I felt a deep pull to give it new life. My vision was to reimagine this space not just for myself, but as a true gift to the community. Now we have a place where creativity and connection can come together while still celebrating its history,” she added.

Today, it is a creative retreat that combines dining, retail, art studios and lodging. It features a contemporary American restaurant and bar, cafés, boutique shopping, art and gathering spaces and 10 uniquely decorated cottages for overnight stays. Cohen’s Retreat also hosts weddings, private events and community gatherings, making it a hub for both visitors and locals alike.

From Mortuary To 1920s Theme Boutique Hotel In Gulfport, Mississippi

Once a mortuary and later a menswear shop, now Hotel Vela is place to escape back to the 1920s in Gulfort, Mississippi. Its 16 rooms bring together the building’s historic character with the comforts of contemporary design.

Downstairs, the Siren Social Club is a speakeasy-style restaurant that sets the tone with vintage glamour, drawing inspiration from the Roaring Twenties. Original elements such as exposed brick walls are woven into the design that mixes bold textures, period references and contemporary indulgence.

“One of my favorite details is the faint ‘Lang Undertaking’ sign still visible on the side of the building. It’s a titillating little bit of trivia that fascinates our guests,” said Tresse Sumrall, co-owner of Siren Social Club and Hotel Vela, in an email interview.

“At the same time, the interiors are warm, chic, and inviting, so the overall experience is far from somber. Guests are always intrigued by the story, but what they leave talking about is the stunning restoration and the immersive experience inside,” Sumrall added.

From Railway Station To Design Hotel In Salt Lake City, Utah

Last, but not least, the Union Pacific Depot, Salt Lake City’s iconic architectural landmarks. It served as a grand rail station during the transformative era of American railroad travel since 1908.

In fall 2023, the building was reborn as a design hotel, the Asher Adams, Autograph Collection. The hotel preserved the historic structure of the depot and restored many original features, including the vaulted Grand Hall, terrazzo and Utah-themed murals.

“Historic buildings inevitably present unique obstacles—such as outdated electrical systems, acoustic issues, and, in many cases, a lack of reliable architectural plans—forcing the development team to make critical assumptions throughout the process,” said Richard Holtzman, principal, vice president of hospitality at The Athens Group.

The hotel’s restaurants and bars draw inspiration from dining cars, with sleek contemporary décor featuring a charcoal-powered Josper grill and oven.

“The response to Asher Adams from the local community has been incredibly rewarding. Nearly every day, a Salt Lake City native walks into the building for the first time in years, their faces lighting up as they take in the restoration of a place that played such a meaningful role in the city’s history,” Holtzman added.

Countless Stories Of Reinvention

The above examples are far from a full list. Countless buildings that once stood abandoned are now thriving. They got a new lease on life as hotels, literally.

Lancaster Arts Hotel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a hotel that once was a tobacco warehouse, celebrates its 20th anniversary next year.

Further north in Buffalo, New York, The Richardson Hotel brings new life to the 1870s Buffalo State Asylum, which reopened as a hotel in 2023.

On the otherside of the country, Los Angeles will soon welcome Hotel Lucile. It will be a boutique hotel by Casetta Hotels set within a 1931 church.

Casetta Hotels’ head of brand, Sana Keefer, explained that transforming the church was a way to honor the building’s history while giving it a vibrant new chapter. She noted that every design decision was made to preserve the soul of the space while creating room for new stories to unfold.

And that is the point. When transforming a neglected building is done well, it becomes a model of responsible tourism development: maximizing existing resources, reducing the carbon costs of demolition and rebuilding, protecting the place’s identity and creating new opportunities for the local community.