What is actually hidden on our Earth - or rather on water - behind the word "floatel"? This is a long-established term for accommodation at sea, which is used, for example, by employees of oil rigs. Giant cruise ships are often referred to as floating hotels with a touch of luxury. These offer us a wide range of pleasures, from functional to fairy tales.

However, the fate of the most watched floating hotel in the world in the 80s was more reminiscent of a story from a catastrophic film. The Four Seasons Barrier Reef Resort was originally intended as a luxurious place to relax in the crystal blue waters of Australian Queensland.

Hotel (Floatel) Four Seasons Barrier Reef Resort

Doug Tarca thought that it would be good to tie several boats together and create a magnificent place for accommodation and rest of rich guests. However, his thoughts changed direction a little when he noticed the rigs at the oil wells. Why not turn this basic concept into a lavish hotel, the experienced underwater wolf thought? Of course, major adjustments would be necessary, but the seed for the creation of a new business has already been sown.

The server abc.net.au writes that the Four Seasons Barrier Reef Resort “promised paradise at sea; It was a floating seven-story mega-building with nearly 200 rooms, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, a heliport, a tennis court and a 1988-seat underwater observatory. ” .

The idea was one thing - but the practice? Something completely different!

The logistical side of the whole project was quite complicated. The construction of the floatel took place in Singapore. Upon completion, the final product and its "oil rig-like anchor system" worth about $ 13 million had to be shipped to a destination 3 miles away.

This was John Brewer Reef, 40 miles from the shores of Townsville. A place with stunning natural beauty - which needed to be thoroughly prepared before placing the Four Seasons floatel. The removal of corals to allow the floating hotel to pass is said to have disrupted the local ecosystem and angered the environmentally conscious public. Floatel created a strongly negative advertisement before he arrived.

Townsville Maritime Museum

Cyclone

Tarc's vision thus came into reality. Unfortunately, it rather jumped into a turbulent stream of problems in the form of a tropical cyclone! Before the first guests could enter the reception at all, the arrival of extreme weather on the brand new Babylon at sea caused a nice trigger. Even if the guests wanted to come, it was impossible - the cyclone sent a transport boat into the depths and the hotel observatory suddenly ended up at the bottom of the ocean.

Photo provided by Townsville Maritime Museum

But drama aside, this idea probably had several cracks from the beginning. Robert De Jong, chief curator at the Maritime Museum in Townsville, outlined the issues of Business Insider Australia, which he said: Pacific again. It's probably a little monotonous for you. ”He also questioned the high cost of living, which may have left some bank accounts dry soon.

The last nail in the coffin was when someone discovered the presence of thousands of unexploded ordnance from World War II that rusted under the hotel. Undoubtedly, the check out that day was a little faster than usual. Paradise in the Pacific proved to be volatile and survived for less than a year until his team threw a towel in the ring.

After this episode, the hotel moved to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam for about ten years. Named Saigon floating hotel, it was famous for its nightlife. In 1997, however, he encountered other financial problems. The place where he traveled further reveals another story of his story.

Haegumgang

The east coast of North Korea and the inhospitable surroundings of the Kumgang Diamond Mountain have been home to the floatel since the late 90s. The construction was supposed to fulfill the tourists' dreams, and this idea continued in an unexpected way.

Barrier Reef Holdings

Under the new name Haegumgang, the hotel was to serve as a meeting place for families and people who had been separated by the Korean War. This latest reincarnation of the hotel, floating near the border of the demilitarized zone, was a symbol of peace between North and South Korea. The shaky peace was tragically ended after a North Korean guard shot a civilian here.

The hotel definitely rang during the reign of Kim Jong-un. He visited it in 2019, for 30 years after its first opening. "From an architectural point of view, the building is outdated. It's in a terrible state. This hotel represents an incomprehensible chaos in which there is not even a hint of our national character, "- DPRK chapter Kim Jong-un. The supreme leader was clearly not stunned by the construction. According to Mail, "he promised to destroy all traces of the development of the South and the North would start again with his own buildings."

Doug Tarca could not have predicted the fate of his floating hotel. Instead of going on a trip to a beautiful lagoon, the project ended in the darker waters aimed at the weapons of the world powers. On the one hand, the project failed. On the other hand, he created an engaging story…