Monday, May 6, 2013

Roberts Barrack now becomes hotel! Would you dare to stay here?

The Roberts Barrack is a well known paranormal haunt for many in the past! In fact, Roberts Barrack was one of the places that we had investigated back in our Expedition 1! We had a few sensations there, noticed a few orbs hovering around the place, and in particular one orb that hovered above an old security guard table. 

Murders took place there too - the most famous one being an Indian guard who was found dead in a real police case in Singapore - the Indian guard being one of the caretakers of the old, creepy place. Since then, no security guards or caretakers stayed there overnight. No one dared. Reports had mentioned that when he was found, he was found with a very scared look, and was found on the road leading down from Roberts Barrack. It was as if he was trying to run away from something before he died.


Roberts Barrack was also known to be a prisoner camp back during World War 2. It was reported that more than 21,000 POWs were made to be cramped inside this holding place and the surrounding barracks, and conditions there were terrible. Many prisoners were left to the bones, and many others died from malnutrition and illnesses.


It was less than ideal situation for prisoners to be in and one can imagine the feelings of agony and torture and suffering some of the prisoners faced, especially those who were sick or suffering from illness.


When investigating the place, we could somehow sense the sorrow, pain and sad feelings of the prisoner of war back in World War 2. Their days were filled with hunger and not knowing what will happen to them. These residual energies, plus the negative energies from the murder, all add to the intrigue of this place for a paranormal investigator.


For many years, this site was left abandoned and vacant - the many paranormal phenomenon as well as the negative energy that resides in this place makes many people not willing to do something about the land nor change it - the history attached to this place is just too strong.



The place is also filled with other darker energies as it was left abandoned for at least 10-20 years - as it is known that spirits may reside in spaces that are empty or not filled. If you do a check on experiences people have about this place, you will probably hear plenty of stories!


Recently, in the past 5 years, SLA placed the Roberts Barrack under tender for development into a hotel and resort but not surprisingly, no one wanted to take it up and take over to develop this place. However, 3 years ago, I started noticing some developments into the place as someone looked like it has bought over the land. However, for the next 3 years, nothing much moved and the development of the place seemed to be terribly slow.

 

Rumours was that the initial developer ran into some issues and problems in the midst of building the resort and the construction was left hanging halfway. It was left semi abandoned for the last 3 years as no movement in the development took place, even though the building was already formed. But just today i made a visit there and happened to see that the hotel was already up and running!! 

 

Found out that it was a new management and when i asked the receptionist, he told me that this place, called "Changi Cove" was not under any company or developer but run by a group of private individuals. Seems like developers know more about this place and has decided against taking it up. I wondered who this group of individuals were.

 

They must have spent alot of money to do up this place and they have even kept the original Roberts Barrack intact! the entire place and architecture is still the same (check out the exterior outlook and compare it to the old pictures we took). Even in the classy restaurant, the opening corridors and walls were still unique to the ones original in Roberts Barracks!

 

The place certainly looks grand and new now, and it looks beautiful yet with quite a classy charm. Touted to be a good place for weddings, for meetings, for retreats and for ROM, if no one knew about the history of this place, no one will even feel the negativity of this place.

 

Each of the rooms and suites are also beautifully done up and it looks romantic yet cosy. The picture below of one of the standard rooms with the scribbled words "Welcome to my place" while it looks nice, we cannot help but compare it to the old scribblings on the walls of this barracks from the prisoners held there. It is strangely uncanny! Further research shows that Changi Cove is charging $220 (with breakfast) for a night's stay in this room! Now, we wonder if this amount is too costly for a spooky old historic place. Well for those who are nostalgic and likes history perhaps it is reasonable?

 

While pretty it looks in day and with the lush greenery and trees all around, this place certainly have a serene, peaceful and natural outlook and deco. The many birds chirping and the sea nearby all potentially make this place to be a nice getaway for some! However, when the sun sets and the night falls, this place could turn totally different. 


Taking a walk around the premises tonight, the carpark was totally empty and the entire place was dead! it was eerily quiet and stale for a new hotel. Absolutely no guests at all as i walk around. No pool water, no sounds of tourist and guests enjoying a good time - it was as if it was before - DEAD.


The place is still an intriguing place and we would be very much interested to do an investigation by staying in the hotel (if only the price is cheaper!) for one night. The place is still reeking from history and residual energies. How interesting it would be to be the ONLY guests in the entire hotel! The hotel staff said that the suite at the actual Roberts Barracks will be ready by end year, and this would be a tempting opportunity for us to book a room directly there and do an investigation! anyone up for this?

2 comments:

Unknown said...

When we found out a couple of years back that this area n also de old Changi Hospital is undergoing changes to a hotel n spa we were very excited..we have much history to Changi Hospital n was really excited to know abt Changi Cove..we planned to celebrate our wedding anni there this dec..however when we contacted de hotel n ask abt its origin etc..de staff stammers so much that make me go hmmm..hehe..de surrounding of this place is soo errie that it gives me goosebumpsbeing there coz as a Singaporean,ive studied my history well..a romatic n quiet place BUT i feel a bit OFF..the place is still way too spooky to b esp at night..

Unknown said...

When we found out a couple of years back that this area n also de old Changi Hospital is undergoing changes to a hotel n spa we were very excited..we have much history to Changi Hospital n was really excited to know abt Changi Cove..we planned to celebrate our wedding anni there this dec..however when we contacted de hotel n ask abt its origin etc..de staff stammers so much that make me go hmmm..hehe..de surrounding of this place is soo errie that it gives me goosebumpsbeing there coz as a Singaporean,ive studied my history well..a romatic n quiet place BUT i feel a bit OFF..the place is still way too spooky to b esp at night..