Post #596168 by bigbrotiki on Mon, Jul 4, 2011 4:02 PM

Wow, did he get the matching mug you made, too?

On 2011-06-29 20:30, Dustycajun wrote:

Postcard from the Hotel Intercontinental Pago Pago.

Also known as the Rainmaker Hotel, this place has always fascinated me. It was built during the peak period of South Seas tourism, in 1964, by Pete Wimberly's architectural firm, and outfitted by Oceanic Arts. It was designed not like the peaked A-frames Wimberly did for the Waikikian and Canlis in Honululu, but in the style of the traditional Samoan "fale" house:

There is a great, detailed Wikipedia page on the architecture of the fale, down to the mythology of its unique rounded shape:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Samoa

Since its heyday the Hotel has become delapidated....

http://www.american.samoa-hotels.com/rainmaker-hotel/Index.html

"Rainmaker Hotel is one of the most unusual hotels in the South Pacific. Built in the 1960's alongside a picturesque beach on the outskirts of Pago Pago, this hotel is now owned by the government. However, this figurehead of tourism is in a complete state of delapidation with unrepaired doors hanging off their hinges, broken roof slates lying around and a pool green with algae. Many of the rooms are dysfunctional with broken doors and stripped of furnishings and paint but there are still pleasant enough rooms and bungalows overlooking the beach. The hotel is frequented by Government Officials on often dubious business. If you are one for novel experiences, then stay here for a few nights - you'll likely meet some interesting characters and will no doubt have a few stories to tell back home."

I always thought it would be kind of like renting a room in the ruins of the Coco Palms. Part of the property has been fixed up since and is operated as Sadie's by the Sea:

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2011-07-04 23:15 ]