The music has long since stopped at the Ballhaus Riviera Ballroom, but its haunting remains still echo its past splendor. Once a gem of 1920s Berlin Grünau, the ballroom now stands as a ghost of its former self, falling into disrepair.
Situated on the banks of the Dahme River, this once grand dance hall has now collapsed into ruins. It’s become a popular spot for photographers, urban explorers, and vandals. The walls, now covered in graffiti and scattered with broken glass, still murmur stories of its vibrant past. Despite its decay, the Ballhaus Riviera Ballroom continues to capture the essence of a bygone era.
These dangerously decaying floors once echoed with the lively steps of Berlin’s vibrant party scene, starting with its first dance in 1890. Grünau was a beloved vacation spot, known for its rowing clubs and regattas that attracted up to 50,000 visitors.
The surge of eager party-goers created a need for a place to dance all night, and the Ballhaus Riviera became the go-to spot. This once-bustling ballroom was the center of excitement, where the joy and energy of the era were brought to life.
The Ballhaus Riviera Ballroom was the heart of Grünau’s social life until its popularity faded in the late 1970s. The disco era signaled its decline, and by 1990, the once lively dance hall had permanently closed its doors.
Today, the ballroom stands abandoned, a fire hazard stripped of anything intact or valuable. Despite potential investors dreaming of converting it into hotels or apartments, the decaying structure continues to fall apart. In July 2019, a fire caused parts of the building to collapse, leaving only some of the outer walls standing. Now a shadow of its former self, the Ballhaus Riviera remains a poignant relic of a bygone era.
