Abandoned hotel in downtown Macon imploded on New Year Day

Macon-Bibb County started 2025 with a bang — and a cloud of dust over downtown Macon.

Preparation for the downtown Macon hotel implosion started early Wednesday. 13WMAZ's Maggie Fitzgerald reported people setting up to watch on Coleman Hill as early as 6 a.m. That crowd would continue to grow to a group of hundreds by implosion time. Solen Aref reported a large crowd at the Zaxby's on Riverside Drive, too.

Throughout the morning, the excitement was palpable. As the crowd grew on Coleman Hill, Mayor Lester Miller led a 'practice' countdown. Just minutes before the scheduled demolition time, the crowd joined Miller in counting down from 10. The anticipation built.

Then, it happened.

At precisely 9 a.m., about 900 pounds of explosives ignited in the 300-room hotel. Decades of history went down in a massive cloud of dust. Cheers erupted on Coleman Hill and on Riverside Drive.

"I can get used to that," Miller said. "I don't know how to explain the feeling, but I think my heart rate had to be like 150."