The iconic Hotel Oloffson, once the crown jewel of Haiti’s cultural scene, has been ravaged by gang violence, leaving the country mourning its loss. The beloved Gothic gingerbread building, a favorite haunt of artists, intellectuals, and politicians alike, was reduced to ashes in a devastating attack on Saturday.
The hotel, which served as a presidential summer palace in the early 1900s, attracted visitors from Mick Jagger to Haitian presidents. Its walls witnessed some of Haiti’s most tumultuous moments, including coups, dictatorships, and the devastating 2010 earthquake. The hotel even inspired Graham Greene’s novel “The Comedians,” set in Haiti under the brutal dictatorship of François Duvalier.
Longtime hotel manager Richard Morse, who oversaw the property remotely from the US, confirmed the fire on Sunday morning. He expressed reluctance to discuss the incident further due to ongoing gang violence and instability in Port-au-Prince. Morse spent nearly 30 years at the Oloffson, where he met his wife, had children, and started his band.
The hotel’s collapse is a stark reminder of Haiti’s dire situation, with gangs controlling many areas and preventing journalists from verifying the damage. The loss of this cultural gem will be deeply felt by the Haitian people and the international community who cherished it for its beauty, history, and resilience.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/08/haiti-hotel-oloffson-burned-down-by-gangs