‘Communist hideout’ seaside town left abandoned | Money News

Kupari, a Croatian  seaside resort once reserved for the military elite of a former Communist country, stands on the cusp of a $136 million makeover.

Dictated by Yugoslavia’s then-leader, Josip Tito, Kupari was a stronghold of leisure with its villas for high-ranking officers, hotels for the lower ranks, and even a campsite for the grunts.

However, the Croatian War of Independence left it in ruins. Today, there’s renewed hope for this piece of the Dalmatian coast as a 150-million-euro investment promises a revival.

Architect Marko Dabrović, helming the project, expressed to the Observer: “It has been an eyesore for 30 years, so everyone is pleased it will be developed and it will offer local employment.”

While Russian investors initially took interest, their involvement waned due to the invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions. Now, a Singapore-based consortium with the Four Seasons hotel group plans to rejuvenate Kupari.

Despite being derelict for ages, the site attracted attention from US YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, AKA MrBeast, who documented his experience in a deserted cityscape, reports the Express.

As part of the regeneration project, some current structures will be demolished to make way for a 220-room luxury hotel and 32 hillside villas.

According to the Observer, Tito’s villas will remain untouched as they are still considered state property. The “jewel” of the resort, Hotel Pelegrin, is among the structures slated for demolition.

This hotel, boasting 400 bedrooms, was built in 1963 based on a modernist design by Bosnian architect David Finci. Euronews reports that at its peak, the resort could house 1,600 vacationers and an additional 4,000 at nearby campsites.

Architectural historian Boris Vidakovic told the same outlet last year: “Hotel Pelegrin appeared on the covers of architecture magazines when it was built.”

He added: “At the time, it surprised both experts and the general public. The building is one of the pioneers that ushered a new generation, a new type of coastal projects.”

Now, the 15-hectare (37-acre)”resort,” once filled with the joyful sounds of holidaymakers, stands abandoned, drawing crowds intrigued by this forgotten chapter of Croatia’s history.