Mont Parnasse: what will happen to the iconic building after the casino moves

The history of the building complex on Parnit dates back to the early 1960s, when the “high society sanatorium” first opened its doors to the Athenian public in the presence of the then Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis, who not only supported the project, but also proposed to give it a name : Mon Parnes.

Thus, in the summer of 1961, the history of the long-suffering building, which is located at an altitude of 1078 meters on Mount Parnita, begins. Behind the construction of the complex of buildings was an ambitious plan of the time, which included the creation of a luxury hotel that was supposed to be a winter holiday destination near Athens.

However, from the very first year of its operation, the hotel failed to find the expected response. The management did everything possible to “keep afloat” and not close completely. Part of this effort was the decision to radically convert it into a casino in 1971, the first casino license in the country.

Then a powerful earthquake in 1999 destroyed the hotel. The building was badly damaged and beyond repair. Tourist facilities ceased their activities and were abandoned. The only constant in this direction was the casino, which continued to operate all these years until today, and in 2003 the business was taken over by Regency Entertainment.

However, now the location-based casino is living its last days after the recent approval by the State Council of the presidential decree, which, in fact, “unblocked” relocation of the casino to Marousi.

So what is the future of the Parnit building after the business is gone? With the completion of the move and the start of operation of the casino in Marousi, it is expected that the reconstruction and modernization of the building complex will be taken over by the investment organization Voria. However, it is still unclear how much money will be needed to transform the building, but early estimates suggest project, the cost of which will approach 20 million euros. It should be noted that the specific funds that will eventually be required will be added to the 200 million euros budgeted for the investment in Marousi.

In particular, the work includes, among other things, the complete dismantling of buildings and the removal of construction debris, the complete demolition (or total reconstruction) of the Mylonas Tower, recognized as a cultural monument. There will also be dismantling of all hard surfaces (parking, old tennis courts and heliport) located in the adjacent area, serving as a “way of communication” with the mountain refuge Buffy.

As noted, the work, especially in relation to Pyrgos Mylonas, is expected complete within three years from the moment the casino starts operating in a new location and the necessary permits are issued. So, as soon as all the planned reconstruction works are completed, the restored building will be transferred to ETAD, which will now decide how it will be used. As noted, the Athens Resort Casino will no longer have any involvement with the property.

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