Niagara Falls, N.Y.- Hotel Niagara in the process of being renovated, could open as soon as Summer 2012.

It seems like whenever you mention Hotel Niagara, people take a trip down memory lane.

“You know JFK stayed there…And Marilyn Monroe when she was filming the movie 'Niagara,'” they'll say. Others will talk about their high school prom, or their parents wedding, but for some reason Hotel Niagara brings back a sense of nostalgia to those living in Niagara USA.

For me, it’s little more than an 12-story eyesore of sorts, lurking over the visitor’s center where I work. The once grand building, one of the premier hotels in the world when it was built in 1923, sitting just a few steps from Niagara Falls State Park, has sat shuttered for several years now.

Locked inside is history, a glimpse at the grandeur that once existed in hotel construction and a whole lot of potential.

The Hotel Niagara sits on the National Register of Historic Places and according to the registry, the buildings current function is described as “work in progress.” That made me laugh out loud.

On Tuesday, as I looked across Rainbow Boulevard from my office to the Hotel Niagara, I noticed the front doors were open, people were milling around in the lobby and my curiosity peaked.

More or less, I wanted to see the inside of this once grand hotel, which once hosted performances by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr, so I grabbed my camera and walked over.

Once inside, I was surprised to find renderings, architectural drawings and plans for the future development and historic preservation of the hotel. The plans called for a glass atrium addition on the top floor of the building, which would serve as a roof top bar and restaurant.

Diane Koz, of Stinson Developments, the Canadian developer for the project, said the building would likely be mixed use with hotel rooms, apartments and offices. In addition there would be a spa, swimming pool, meeting space and an iconic ballroom, which the hotel was once famous for, would be restored to its previous state, she said.

Koz also indicated the building would be operating by Summer 2012, at least in a limited capacity.

I was able to take a few photos of the lobby, which is rough condition and will soon be taking a tour of the entire building and will share those photos at a later date.

For more information on Stinson Developments and their plans for Hotel Niagara click here.

As a point of historical reference, after his stay at Hotel Niagara, John F. Kennedy made a speech in the City of Niagara Falls, where he said “There is an old saying that you have not seen any falls until you have seen Niagara Falls.”

That saying still goes!

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