Cecil Hotel is currently closed but here's when it reopens

10 February 2021, 15:08

Watch the trailer for Netflix's true crime doc about the Cecil Hotel

By Katie Louise Smith

Is the Cecil Hotel closed? Here's everything you need to know about the current state of Cecil Hotel and Stay on Main.

Netflix has just dropped its latest true crime documentary about the infamous LA hotel, the Cecil Hotel, and the mysterious death of Elisa Lam while she was staying there.

The 19-floor hotel first opened in 1927. Following the Great Depression, the area it was located in became a popular space of refuge for homeless people and sex workers, and the once thriving business hotel slipped into decline.

With links to serial killer Richard Ramirez and a string of tragic and mysterious deaths in the building (including Elisa Lam), the hotel soon became infamous. In fact, it even served as inspiration for American Horror Story: Hotel.

Despite its dark past, guests still continued to stay at the hotel, as it was an affordable place for tourists and people who had very little money, or no means of renting their own apartment, to stay in. But can you still stay there? Is it still open for business? Here's everything you need to know.

Can you still stay at the Cecil Hotel?

Is the Cecil Hotel still open for business?

As of right now, the Cecil Hotel/Stay on Main is not currently open to the public, as it is undergoing renovations. Once renovations are complete, it will likely reopen to guests and the public.

In 2007, the hotel was sold for $26 million and later renamed and rebranded in 2011 as "Stay on Main", with a separate lobby and a designated set of rooms on separate floors to the Cecil Hotel. In 2014, the hotel was bought by hotelier Richard Born, who paid $30 million for it. It then closed in 2017 for a complete overhaul and it has yet to reopen.

Plans to completely redevelop the interior and fix the issues in the building were in the works, alongside a gym, a lounge and a rooftop pool.

The renovations were hoping to be complete at some point in 2021, although coronavirus may have delayed the process further.

How much does it cost to stay at Cecil Hotel/Stay On Main?

Before it closed, Stay On Main was a 2-star budget hotel/hostel. As part of the rebrand, the hotel became two hotels in one. One part was a "youth hostel for the modern traveller" and the other part (Cecil Hotel) was for tenants and other guests.

Some more up to date reviews for Stay on Main say that it's in a good location and was good value for money.

According to letsbookhotel.com, basic room rates for the Stay on Main hostel ranged between $21 and $53 per night.

Where is the Cecil Hotel located?

Stay On Main, formerly known as Cecil Hotel, is located on 640 South Main Street, near a part of downtown Los Angeles nicknamed 'Skid Row'.

A description on a hotel website details more about the location: "The venue is set in the charming part of Los Angeles, a few minutes' drive from Los Angeles Convention Center. The Museum of Contemporary Art is nestled 1 km away. Guests may enjoy dishes of American, French, European and Italian cuisine served in Bottega Louie, which is about 650 metres away. Cecil Hotel provides great lodging in proximity to The Reserve."

How many deaths have happened at the Cecil Hotel?

According to Wikipedia, there are 17 reported deaths that have happened in the Cecil Hotel, including the mysterious and tragic death of Elisa Lam. Although, general manager Amy Price (who worked there from 2007 to 2017) told Netflix she "saw around 80 deaths over my 10 years there."

The hotel also has links to serial killers Richard Ramirez and Jack Unterweger, who reportedly stayed there during their killing sprees.