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The Sneakys Explore, YouTube

Terry O'Donnell

Monday, July 31st, 2023 4:08pm

Back in February, we asked ‘what’s up with the abandoned Holiday Inn on Wolf Rd‘. Months later, we still have more questions than answers. But, there was some action at the hotel in late July.

The Albany Business Review spotted a group of movers on site, taking out furniture and throwing debris into several dumpsters. Word is, the property has a new owner. The hotel was apparently sold on July 7th to a business with a Brooklyn address, though the Business Review could not confirm who the new owner is.

Even Colonie town officials appear to be in the dark over who owns the property. Planning Director Sean Maguire told the paper he had recently heard there was an interested buyer, but didn’t know much more than that. He is hopeful that the property can be put to use.

We’d like to see a successful redevelopment consistent with the Wolf Road corridor, whether it’s reuse of the existing or something entirely different.

The hotel, which sprawls across 13 acres, has over 300 rooms, a massive ballroom, and space for a restaurant. It last operated as The Red Lion Inn until 2020, but did no reopen after the pandemic. Since then it has sat mostly abandoned with the exception of some possible squatters and urban explorers.

It was best known in its heyday as the Holiday Inn Turf, which boasted a number of conventions, as well as popular restaurants and bars like Fenders and Playfields.