// Discover // Worth the Detour // Hotel California
WORTH THE DETOUR
Hotel California in Land Between The Lakes
Not everything worth seeing in Land Between the Lakes is a trailhead sign or a visitor center. Hotel California is one of those hidden, curious places that adventurous visitors talk about quietly, like it’s a secret meant to be discovered rather than marketed. Hidden deep in the woods of LBL, this abandoned concrete structure isn’t a hotel, and it’s not in California, but it has a story and presence that make it unforgettable once you find it.
The structure was once the retirement home of a riverboat captain named Grover Marler, built before the recreation area existed and long abandoned after the Tennessee Valley Authority purchased the land. Today its walls are covered in graffiti, and remnants of gatherings – empty bottles and discarded items – tell the tales of past visitors drawn to its mystery.
Quick Facts
- Abandoned, Two-Story Concrete Home
- Open to Foot Traffic Only
- Year-Round
- Approximately Half-Mile Round Trip
- Avoid Second Floor
- Leave No Trace
To reach Hotel California, set a course from the Woodlands Trace byway onto Forest Service Roads 112 and then 120, watching for a rough logging lane just over a mile down. Park on the side of the road and follow a short path through the woods to the structure’s remains.
Exploring this place carries inherent risks. The building has no official oversight and is structurally unsound in parts, so stay on the ground floor, pick your steps carefully, and come prepared. Most important of all, leave no trace. Respect the history buried under the graffiti and the sweat that once went into this place, and pack out everything you pack in so this odd little landmark stays worth the detour for the next curious visitor.
