The Abandoned Arne’s Royal Hawaiian Motel is located in the tiny town of Baker, conveniently close to the intersection of I-15 and State Route 127 (Death Valley Road). Built in 1957, this slice of Hawaii served guests for over 50 years. Situated in the middle of this really tiny desert town, Arne’s Royal Hawaiian motel was probably never anything but a rest stop for drivers. Now unfortunately it sits shuttered and abandoned.
Baker wasn’t just a well-placed rest stop, however. The owner hoped his motel would appeal to travelers to Death Valley, who might want an overnight stop when traveling the desert. The so-called “Gateway to Death Valley” also boasted The World’s Tallest Thermometer. To make it even more appealing, the motel had an outdoor pool, perfect for cooling down after a visit to scorching Death Valley.
Opened in 1957 in Baker, CA, Arne’s Royal Hawaiian Motel had a great run until economic hardship following the Great Recession finally closed it down for good in 2009. The Arne’s Royal Hawaiian Motel consisted of 43-motel rooms, swimming pool, a 3,200 sq. ft. garage with office, a 3-bedroom, 2-bath manager’s residence, recreation room with pool tables, two laundry rooms and a single mobile home space.
Currently, the motel site is for sale. The asking price is about $450,000, although much more would need to be spent in renovating this tired location. Baker, California is home to a number of abandoned places including a couple of other shuttered motels and an abandoned prison.
