The Cecil Hotel opened in December 1924 as a luxury 14-story downtown Los Angeles property. By 2013, it had become infamous for dozens of deaths and violent incidents—and that year, the mysterious disappearance and death of 21-year-old Canadian tourist Elisa Lam made the building globally notorious. This article separates verified history from myth, tracks the hotel’s 93-year run as a commercial property through its 2017 closure, and explains what stands at the address today: an affordable housing complex operated by the Skid Row Housing Trust since December 2021. Sources include Wikipedia, the Los Angeles Times, Biography.com, PBS SoCal, and The Clio.
Last checked: 2026-06-06
Compare the lowest rates and guest reviews. Many options with free cancellation.Check rates
Bundle flight + hotel and compare deals and rewards in one place.Check ratesThis link contains affiliate advertising. Prices and availability may change on the destination site.
Location: Downtown Los Angeles, California, USA · Opened: December 20, 1924 · Notable event: Disappearance and death of Elisa Lam (2013) · Current function: Affordable housing complex (since 2017)
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-06-06.
Sources reviewed: Wikipedia entry on the Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles), Wikipedia entry on the Death of Elisa Lam, Los Angeles Times reporting, Biography.com profile, PBS SoCal history feature, The Clio academic entry, American Ghost Walks historical article.
We did not conduct an on-site visit (the building now operates as permanent housing, not open to visitors), conduct staff interviews, or conduct an independent crime investigation.
Cecil Hotel: Key Facts at a Glance
- December 20, 1924, with 14 floors and roughly 700 guest rooms (Wikipedia – Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles))
- Closed as a commercial hotel in 2017 after 93 years operating as lodging (Wikipedia – Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles))
- Body discovered February 19, 2013, in a rooftop water tank (Biography.com)
- Affordable housing complex operated by Skid Row Housing Trust since December 13, 2021 (Wikipedia – Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles))
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Downtown Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Opened | December 20, 1924 |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts–influenced, with marble lobby and stained glass details |
| Floors | 14 |
| Notable event | Disappearance and death of Elisa Lam (2013) |
| Cause of death (official) | Accidental drowning; bipolar disorder listed as significant contributing condition |
| Hotel ceased operations | 2017 |
| Current function | Affordable housing complex (since December 13, 2021) |
| Current operator | Skid Row Housing Trust |
| Landmark status | Designated a Los Angeles historic-cultural monument in 2017 |
What is the story behind the Cecil Hotel?
The Cecil Hotel entered Los Angeles history on December 20, 1924, when it opened as a 14-story property designed by architect Loy Lester Smith in a Beaux-Arts–influenced style. The building featured a marble lobby and stained glass, targeting business travelers and tourists in the growing downtown district. Built by hoteliers William Banks Hanner, Charles L. Dix, and Robert H. Schops, the property initially operated as a midrange commercial hotel with roughly 700 guest rooms.
Economic shifts during the Great Depression and subsequent decades reshaped the Cecil’s identity. By the mid-20th century, the surrounding area had deteriorated, and what became Skid Row grew in proximity to the hotel. The property transitioned from a midrange tourist destination to a low-cost residential and transitional housing location. Residents and local media nicknamed the building “The Suicide” because of the concentration of deaths occurring within its walls, according to PBS SoCal.
Two serial killers stayed at the Cecil during active killing periods. Richard Ramirez, known as the “Night Stalker,” lodged there during his mid-1980s spree, and Austrian serial killer Jack Unterweger stayed around 1991 while operating in Los Angeles, according to The Clio. These associations compounded the hotel’s dark reputation. Local lore also links the Cecil to Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia murder victim from 1947, but this connection remains speculative and unsupported by primary police records.
In 2011, the hotel attempted a rebranding as the Stay on Main, operating a hybrid of traditional hotel rooms and hostel-style accommodations within the historic building, per Wikipedia. The lower rates and shared accommodations attracted budget-conscious travelers—including solo tourists exploring Los Angeles on limited budgets.
The Elisa Lam case (2013)
Elisa Lam, a 21-year-old Canadian student at the University of British Columbia, traveled from Vancouver to Los Angeles on January 26, 2013, and checked into the Cecil’s hostel-style section during a solo California trip, according to the Los Angeles Times. She was last definitively seen alive on January 31, 2013, in the hotel’s elevator on surveillance footage released by the Los Angeles Police Department.
The LAPD released the elevator video on February 14, 2013. The footage shows Lam pressing multiple buttons, stepping in and out of the elevator, and gesturing in the hallway before the doors close. The video went viral globally, becoming a focal point for online speculation and conspiracy theories. In Canada and China particularly, Lam’s death generated intense interest, with the elevator video drawing millions of views on Chinese platform Youku, per the Los Angeles Times.
Lam’s parents reported her missing on February 8, 2013—eight days after her last confirmed sighting. After residents complained of low water pressure and discolored water, a maintenance worker checked the rooftop water tanks on February 19, 2013, and discovered Lam’s body in one of four cisterns on the hotel roof, per the Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles County coroner ruled the cause of death as accidental drowning, with bipolar disorder listed as a significant contributing condition. Toxicology tests found no recreational drugs or alcohol at levels that could have contributed to her death, and no evidence of physical trauma or sexual assault, per Biography.com. Detective Wallace Tennelle of the LAPD stated publicly that he believed Lam went off her prescribed medications, reached the roof in a disoriented state, and accidentally entered the water tank.
Cultural references: Netflix documentary and media
The case rapidly entered popular culture. Sony Pictures acquired rights in 2014 to develop a horror film project titled “The Bringing,” loosely inspired by Lam’s death, per the Los Angeles Times. More significantly, the 2021 Netflix documentary series “Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel” reframed the property’s history and the Lam case for a global streaming audience, juxtaposing the hotel’s violent reputation, Skid Row context, and online amateur detective culture, per Biography.com.
Regional reporting in Los Angeles tends to frame the Cecil as part of the Skid Row social-services landscape, while international coverage more commonly emphasizes its “haunted” status and sensational cases. This divergence between local policy context and global pop-culture mythmaking reflects how the same building can carry entirely different meanings depending on audience, per PBS SoCal.
The pattern shows how a single incident—the Lam case—transformed a locally known troubled property into an internationally recognized symbol of mystery and urban horror, largely through viral video sharing and streaming documentary formats.
Why did the Cecil Hotel shut down?
The Cecil Hotel’s closure resulted from a combination of financial struggles, mounting negative publicity, and shifting urban development plans that ultimately redirected the property’s use away from commercial hospitality. After 93 years operating as a hotel, the building ceased that function in 2017.
Financial struggles and reputation damage
The hotel had operated at the edge of viability for decades. Its location adjacent to Skid Row, combined with its reputation for crime and transient clientele, limited its ability to attract mainstream tourists or business travelers. The 2011 rebranding as the Stay on Main represented an attempt to appeal to budget travelers and backpackers, but the 2013 Elisa Lam incident intensified negative attention globally.
Developer Simon Baron Development obtained a 99-year ground lease and acquired interest in the Cecil in 2015, announcing plans to invest approximately $100 million to convert the property into a boutique hotel with micro-units, per The Clio. However, renovation work stalled, and the building’s long-term use remained contested amid ongoing publicity around the Lam case and the property’s broader social context.
Conversion to affordable housing in 2017 and 2021
Los Angeles City Council designated the Cecil Hotel a historic-cultural monument in 2017, recognizing its architectural and historical significance despite—and partly because of—its notorious reputation, per the Los Angeles Times. The designation came as the city grappled with homelessness and the need for supportive housing options in downtown areas.
The Skid Row Housing Trust eventually took over operation of the property. On December 13, 2021, the Cecil reopened as an affordable housing complex, converting its rooms into housing for low-income and formerly unhoused tenants rather than traditional hotel guests, per Wikipedia. This transformation marked the end of the building’s 93-year history as a commercial lodging property and positioned it within Los Angeles’s broader efforts to address housing insecurity on Skid Row.
The bottom line is that the Cecil’s closure reflected both the accumulated weight of its violent history and the shifting priorities of downtown Los Angeles urban policy, which ultimately valued the building’s location and capacity over its damaged hospitality brand.
Can you still stay in the Cecil Hotel?
No. The Cecil Hotel no longer operates as a commercial lodging property. Since December 13, 2021, the building has functioned exclusively as an affordable housing complex operated by the Skid Row Housing Trust, serving as permanent residence for low-income and formerly unhoused tenants.
No hotel rooms available
The property no longer accepts overnight guests or maintains any hospitality operations. All former guest rooms have been converted to residential units. The building functions as a permanent supportive housing residence, not a hotel or hostel.
Current residents are permanent tenants
The Skid Row Housing Trust operates the property as affordable housing, meaning current occupants hold residential leases or housing agreements. The public does not have access to guest rooms, common areas beyond the lobby, or building amenities typical of hotels.
Limited public access only to lobby or exterior
Visitors interested in the building’s exterior or lobby may view it from the street, but access to residential floors or interior spaces requires explicit tenant permission or official business with the housing operator. The property no longer welcomes casual tourists or fans of its media notoriety.
What this means is that the Cecil Hotel’s transformation from hospitality to housing has closed off all conventional ways the public might have engaged with the property as a destination, limiting external interaction to external observation.
Was Elisa Lam found in a water tank?
Yes. Elisa Lam’s body was discovered on February 19, 2013, inside a rooftop water tank at the Cecil Hotel. The discovery occurred after hotel residents complained about low water pressure and discolored water coming from taps, prompting a maintenance worker to inspect the rooftop cisterns.
The disappearance timeline
Lam arrived in Los Angeles from Vancouver on January 26, 2013, and checked into the Cecil Hotel’s hostel-style accommodations. She was last seen alive on January 31, 2013, captured on elevator surveillance footage. Her parents reported her missing eight days later, on February 8, 2013. The LAPD released the elevator video publicly on February 14, 2013, fueling widespread online speculation about her disappearance.
Elevator footage and viral mystery
The surveillance footage shows Lam entering the elevator, pressing several buttons, stepping in and out, and gesturing in a manner that appeared unusual to many viewers. The video circulated extensively online, generating numerous theories about potential foul play, paranormal activity, or criminal involvement. The LAPD’s decision to release the footage—unusual for an active missing-persons investigation—contributed to the case’s viral spread.
Body found in rooftop water tank 19 days later
Approximately 19 days after her last confirmed sighting, maintenance workers responding to water supply complaints found Lam’s body in one of four water tanks located on the hotel roof. The discovery location and the elapsed time since her disappearance generated intense media interest and additional speculation.
Autopsy and investigation conclusions
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner conducted an autopsy and toxicology examination. The official ruling classified Lam’s death as accidental drowning, with bipolar disorder listed as a significant contributing condition. Toxicology tests detected no recreational drugs or alcohol at levels that could have contributed to her death. Investigators found no evidence of physical trauma or sexual assault. LAPD Detective Wallace Tennelle publicly stated his opinion that Lam discontinued her prescribed bipolar medications, became disoriented, accessed the roof, and accidentally entered the water tank.
The investigation closed without criminal charges. However, the combination of the unusual circumstances, the viral elevator video, and the hotel’s dark reputation sustained numerous conspiracy theories and popular adaptations, including the Netflix documentary series released in 2021.
The implication is that despite official closure of the investigation with an accidental drowning ruling, the Lam case remains a focal point for true-crime enthusiasts and conspiracy communities, illustrating how social media amplification can sustain interest well beyond formal investigative conclusions.
Location and Getting There
The Cecil Hotel is located at 640 South Main Street in downtown Los Angeles, California. The property sits adjacent to the Skid Row neighborhood, a recognized area of concentrated poverty and social services in downtown Los Angeles.
Neighborhood context: The surrounding area includes social service providers, transitional housing facilities, and the broader network of services serving Los Angeles’s unhoused population. The neighborhood’s characteristics contributed significantly to the Cecil’s operational challenges and reputation over decades.
Public transit access: The downtown Los Angeles location is served by multiple Metro bus lines and is within walking distance of Metro Rail stations on Main Street and Spring Street corridors. Visitors should research current transit options and neighborhood safety considerations before planning any visit.
Important note: As the property now operates as a residential building, there is no public access to guest areas. Exterior viewing from public sidewalks on Main Street remains possible, but visitors should respect that this is now someone’s home.
Cecil Hotel: Timeline of Key Events
- — Cecil Hotel opens as a 14-story luxury property targeting business travelers and tourists.
- — The hotel and surrounding downtown area decline during and after the Great Depression; the property becomes associated with Skid Row and low-income residents.
- — Rebranded as the Stay on Main, operating hostel-style and budget accommodations within the historic building.
- — Elisa Lam travels from Vancouver to Los Angeles and checks into the Cecil/Stay on Main during a solo California trip.
- — Lam last seen alive on hotel elevator surveillance footage; her parents report her missing on February 8, 2013.
- — After days of water-supply complaints, a maintenance worker discovers Lam’s body in a rooftop water tank.
- — Los Angeles County coroner formally rules Lam’s death an accidental drowning after autopsy and toxicology.
- — Los Angeles City Council designates the Cecil Hotel a historic-cultural monument. The property ceases hotel operations.
- — Cecil Hotel reopens as an affordable housing complex operated by Skid Row Housing Trust.
Historical Rates and Current Status
During its final years as a commercial hotel (2011–2017 operating as the Stay on Main), nightly rates at the Cecil started from approximately USD 39, making it one of the most affordable downtown Los Angeles lodging options, per American Ghost Walks historical reporting.
These rates reflected the property’s location adjacent to Skid Row, its deteriorated condition, and its reputation among budget travelers and those with limited housing options. The low price point attracted both cost-conscious tourists and individuals experiencing housing instability.
Current status: The property no longer accepts overnight guests. Former hotel rooms have been converted to affordable housing units managed by the Skid Row Housing Trust. Rent and occupancy terms follow affordable housing program guidelines rather than hotel booking models.
Is the Cecil Hotel really haunted?
Whether the Cecil Hotel is haunted remains unverified and subjective. Long-term residents and some local media nicknamed the property “The Suicide” because of its concentration of deaths, per PBS SoCal. The American Ghost Walks paranormal-tour outlet notes that “whether The Cecil Hotel is haunted, or whether the mysteries surrounding the property are merely spun from myth, rumor, and urban legend, is up for debate.” No scientific evidence confirms paranormal activity at the location.
What is the Cecil Hotel called now?
The building retains the name “The Cecil” in its current operation as an affordable housing complex. It is managed by the Skid Row Housing Trust and functions as permanent supportive housing for low-income and formerly unhoused residents, per Wikipedia. The property is no longer associated with the “Stay on Main” branding from its final hotel iteration.
How many floors does the Cecil Hotel have?
The Cecil Hotel has 14 floors, according to Wikipedia. The building was designed as a 14-story structure when it opened in 1924, and this floor count remained consistent throughout its hotel operation and into its current residential use.
Did the Cecil Hotel have a serial killer on site?
Two known serial killers stayed at the Cecil during active killing periods: Richard Ramirez (the “Night Stalker”) in the mid-1980s and Austrian serial killer Jack Unterweger around 1991 while he was in Los Angeles, per The Clio. Neither killer’s victims were definitively linked to the hotel property itself, but their stays contributed to the building’s notorious reputation.
Where is the Cecil Hotel located exactly?
The Cecil Hotel is located at 640 South Main Street in downtown Los Angeles, California. The address places it adjacent to the Skid Row neighborhood, within walking distance of downtown business districts and served by Metro transit options on surrounding streets.
Can you visit the Cecil Hotel today?
Direct public access to the Cecil Hotel is limited. The property now operates as a residential building for tenants of the Skid Row Housing Trust. Exterior viewing from public sidewalks on Main Street is possible, but entry to the building requires tenant permission or official business with the housing operator. The property no longer operates as a hotel, hostel, or tourist destination.
Sources Cited
- Wikipedia – Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles)
- Wikipedia – Death of Elisa Lam
- Los Angeles Times – Netflix, The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel
- Biography.com – Elisa Lam
- PBS SoCal – The Suicide: The Hotel Cecil and the Mean Streets of L.A.’s Notorious Skid Row
- The Clio – Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles)
- American Ghost Walks – The Cecil Hotel, Haunted Los Angeles
“Long term residents at the Cecil began to refer to the building as "The Suicide."”
– PBS SoCal editorial staff, Public television history feature writers
“The chilling death of Elisa Lam, a 21-year-old Canadian tourist whose body was discovered in the water tank of a Los Angeles hotel, sparked a global frenzy in 2013.”
– Jen Yamato, Film reporter, Los Angeles Times