Dark Secrets of Posada del Sol: The Haunted Legacy Behind Inn of the Condemned

What connects Arturo “El Negro” Durazo Moreno and the infamous Posada del Sol hotel with José Neptuno Martínez’s novel Inn of the Condemned?

Inn of the Condemned is a horror and suspense novel by José Neptuno Martínez, incorporating real places and historical events woven into a plot that enhances its fictional elements. Some scenes may seem almost too surreal, yet they’re rooted in reality, lending an unsettling authenticity to the story.

At the heart of the novel, reference is made to Arturo “El Negro” Durazo, the notorious former chief of the Federal District's General Directorate of Police and Traffic, now Mexico City, during 1976–1982. Durazo, a close ally of then-president José López Portillo, is remembered for his corruption and unchecked power, which he wielded with nearly surreal excesses. Among his most notorious acts was constructing an opulent mansion, known as the Parthenon, on the beaches of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero. López Portillo’s favor allowed him to rise to Division General—a title achieved without a military background, ignoring all official protocols and military prerequisites.

Arturo el negro Durazo

In Inn of the Condemned, Durazo appears through brief yet vivid anecdotes shared by a character. These tales, adapted from the testimonies of former employees and chronicled in newspapers, books, and films, provide insight into the brutal reality behind the novel’s chilling fiction.

Yet this article aims to spotlight another central figure of the novel: the mysterious hotel Posada del Sol, which serves as the primary setting for Inn of the Condemned. This old, fallen-from-grace hotel, much like its creator, is steeped in mystery and surrounded by tales of esotericism, witchcraft, and darkness.

Located in the Doctores neighborhood on Niños Héroes Avenue, Posada del Sol is a relic of the past, standing abandoned with its doors closed to the public. For a time, the Mexico City government considered repurposing it as a university or even demolishing it, but the thought of losing this architectural marvel stirred public concern.

What makes the Posada del Sol so unique? Intended as a cultural landmark to draw artists and intellectuals, this hotel was a grand vision realized by architect Fernando Saldaña Galván in the early 1940s. Opening in 1945, it operated for only eight months before closing amid rumors and fantastical explanations.

Hotel "La Posada del Sol"

To this day, the hotel is a capricious, enigmatic marvel with five hundred rooms spread across multiple buildings, adorned with murals that illustrate Mexico’s rich history, monolithic sculptures, Talavera-tiled arches, anthropomorphic statues, and haunting courtyards. Among its sculptures stand figures like Saint Francis of Assisi and the fabled Gubbio wolf. According to legend, Saint Francis risked his life to tame the wolf that terrorized the Italian city of Gubbio, bringing peace to its people.

Saldaña Galván, the hotel's architect and owner, remains a figure shrouded in mystery. After accruing significant debts and facing financial ruin due to the hotel's exorbitant costs, he was plagued by scandal and whispers of misappropriated funds, political rivalries, and possibly even Masonic intrigues. One version of his fate claims he hanged himself within the hotel, unable to bear the pressures of his failed masterpiece. Other accounts suggest he died in obscurity, impoverished and forgotten.

The ghosts of the "Posada del Sol" hotel

Legends tell of ghostly bell tolls that sound each night, marking the somber return of Saldaña’s restless spirit, followed by a procession of specters bound to the site by tragedy. However, other stories dispute this, describing him instead as a man who quietly passed away in old age.

During Durazo’s reign, he allegedly repurposed the abandoned Posada del Sol for clandestine operations, storing drugs and stolen goods, and even hosting debaucherous gatherings. Residents near the hotel reported hearing screams, moans, and cries at night, attributing them to sinister gatherings or perhaps even occult rituals.

Posada del Sol deserves to be rescued from its current state, restored as a cultural center to honor, in part, the original vision of its creator, Fernando Saldaña Galván.

Hotel "Posada del Sol" in it's early years