Implosion Of the Occidental Hotel Muskegon Michigan

[nrrork]

Sad. I was about -8 years old when this happened, so, I obviously don't remember that building. But I just saw some photos with captions that led me here. Tragic that such a beautiful building was demolished for that MALL, which by the time I was a teenager was a desolate, half empty place. At least they didn't have to obliterate any historical buildings to construct the Lakes Mall.

[Hereward1907]

My friends and I camped out in Hackley Park all night to see the Occidental come down. But it was not because I wanted to see it go. It was just such an important part of my life at that time that I had to be there. I had access to the hotel for almost an entire year before it was torn down. I knew just about every corner of the place. And two items from the ballroom still hang proudly in my home - a wall sconce, and a pair of green satin curtains. Once again, Muskegon got it wrong.

[jxaxmxixn]

...And the mall was a HUGE failure!... Though I was born in 1980, every time I hear or think of the Occidental I feel a sinking feeling in my chest. Never will I be able to experience this great piece of Muskegon history in person. Muskegon has always been good at tearing things down...

[bulchit48]

@jxaxmxixn funny, I was born in 1959 and hardly remember the place. it was closed long before I could remember it. I was in school when it was being blown up.

[jxaxmxixn]

@bulchit48 remembered people telling stories about that place as I was growing up - hard to recall details of all of the stories but they left an overall lasting impression with me that's for sure. Maybe I'm letting my emotions get the best of me and in reality blowing the place up might have been the best idea after all...

[bulchit48]

@jxaxmxixn I wish there were some photos somewhere of the inside of the Hotel

[gottabefab]

@bulchit48 Check Ebay...thats how I ended up here. I found postcards/pictures of the inside and outside of the Hotel=)

[CookeCountry]

Still sad to see this murder after all of these years. I remember being in awe of that grand building throughout my childhood and teen years. I still have an actual piece if the building in my possession.

[bulchit48]

@CookeCountry I wish I could remember it myself. I never knew of it until it was leveled. I never went downtown much until the Muskegon Mall and that's gone now too.

[MsMeandu2]

every time we went to the mall my mom had to park by the post office...i dont think she could stand looking at where the occidental once stood.....and now a piece of her childhood (the hotel) and a piece of mine(the mall) ceases to exist.

[joleo89]

Where was this located (street-wise). I've ground up in the West Michigan area, but I wasn't born until '89. I never knew of this place. :-/

[bulchit48]

@joleo89 it's where Steketee's stood in the Muskegon mall (which is now gone too) on first street across from the chronicle.

[denisenan1]

although it made me sad to watch it, the video captured a great part of Muskegon's history.

[M2daMizOnk]

My grandfather used to work there. He was heart broken when it was reduced to rubble. My grandmother still talks about the restaurant inside that had the best hot fudge sundaes. I wish I could have experienced this icon.

[scottclaiborne51]

IMplosion

[Cocoabeachlady]

I was 33 years old in 1975 and cried bitterly when my parents sent me a picture of the Occidental's implosion. I was very grateful that my Gamie and Gigi did not live to see the destruction of their much loved Occidental. As Atlanta residents from the mid 70s to the mid 90s, my husband and I worked hard to rescue the Fox Theatre from the wrecker's ball -Southern Bell wanted to enlarge its employee parking lot! These buildings are a part of our history; we must cherish and protect them.

[bulchit48]

It's a shame there were no photos of the inside of the hotel.

[TJDreamcatcher52]

@bulchit48, there is a photo of the ballroom. I am not sure where I found it online, but it is a post card. This is the only one of any in door pics that I found

[Cocoabeachlady]

My grandparents lived in a suite at the Occidental from 1943 until 1953. My parents' wedding reception was held there in 1941. I was taught table manners in the hotel's formal dining room as a small child. I had loads of fun being spoiled by the employees, especially the elevator operator who allowed me to "help" him turn the wheel that controlled the speed. I can still picture the lobby, dining room, elevator, mail chute and especially my grandparents' suite. I

[bulchit48]

@turbovoice It was to make way for the Muskegon Mall that is now a memory now  too. Why Too bad that the Muskegon Chronicle building is still standing?

[Sheall323]

I remember going downtown and looking at the implosion of the hotel. My uncle and cousin had worked there for years, one was the maintenance man and the other was a chef there.

[TJDreamcatcher52]

I have a room skeleton key to this hotel...room 487

[bulchit48]

Cool, you should post a video of it

[bulchit48]

My sister would probably buy it from you.. she collects such things

[msucarvey]

Do you know who the guy is walking in front of the truck??? Our whole family was there.

[bulchit48]

No i don't know who that was

[danver1971]

I was only 4 when the hotel came down, but I grew up eating ice cream with the famous Occidental Hotel hot fudge on it. It has been a favorite recipe in my family for as long as I can remember.

[vistadelpasado]

I'm amazed that this footage exists.  Thanks for posting a piece of Muskegon history. Too bad this hotel couldn't have been preserved; it was a fading beauty when I was a kid during the 60's. But it had to go in order to follow the mall trend. We all know where that went.

[bulchit48]

yeah they just tear down stuff so fast around here. I barely remember the Hotel myself. I hardly went downtown when it was still standing

[garycalgary]

vintage