Abandoned Judean Hills Hotel Stalled After Four Decades of Delay
Forty years after construction began, the abandoned hotel project near Kibbutz Tzuba remains stalled. Property owner Moti Levy confirmed there are no active plans to complete the resort, leaving its future uncertain.
Nearly forty years after construction first began, the massive abandoned concrete structure near Kibbutz Tzuba in the Judean Hills remains empty, with no guests ever having crossed its threshold. What was initially envisioned as a luxury resort has evolved into a local white elephant. Despite recent planning advancements and reports regarding Fattal Hotels, the project's future remains highly uncertain.
Decades of False Starts and Abandoned Visions
The story of the unfinished hotel dates back to 1985, when Jerusalem hotelier Mordechai Ben-Haim initiated the Gan Haim Hotel project. Financial difficulties soon halted construction, leaving the site dormant. Over the subsequent decades, the property changed hands multiple times. Swiss investors attempted to advance a spa and assisted-living project in the 1990s, followed by Boney Tichon in 2005, though none of these initiatives materialized.
In 2017, Jerusalem contractor Moti Levy acquired the property for 13 million shekels. By 2019, reports emerged regarding an agreement with Fattal Hotels to operate the resort for 25 years, and by July 2024, plans surfaced for a 180-room luxury hotel under the chain's Herods brand. Furthermore, planning documents covering approximately 180 dunams were approved, including 22 dunams designated for hospitality with 23,700 square meters of building rights.
Current Standpoint and Uncertain Future
Despite the planning approvals, project owner Moti Levy delivered a definitive response when asked about future completion plans, stating that there are no such thoughts or designs, and confirming that the partnership with Fattal Hotels is no longer active. Meanwhile, Fattal Hotels stated that the entrepreneur remains responsible for advancing the project and delivering the completed hotel for operation.
For local residents, the desolate concrete shell has long served as an unconventional neighborhood landmark. As the structure continues to stand untouched in the Judean Hills, four decades of unrealized potential leave the future of the Tzuba hotel completely shrouded in uncertainty.
