Binissalem, Mallorca — Once a vibrant hub of leisure and entertainment, the Foro de Mallorca in Binissalem now stands in ruin, a shadow of its former self. Established in the 1950s, the Foro was a pioneering leisure complex on the island, famed for introducing Mallorca’s first waterslide and featuring attractions such as restaurants, a nightclub, and a renowned wax museum housed within its castle.
At its peak during the 1970s and 1980s, the Foro attracted both locals and tourists. However, the emergence of modern coastal waterparks and other attractions gradually eclipsed its appeal. Its inland location in Binissalem, once a unique draw, eventually became a disadvantage. The decline was slow but steady—by 2007, the wax museum had closed, and the last remaining part of the complex, the El Molinot restaurant, shuttered its doors in 2019.
Despite attempts by the owners to secure the property with fencing, the site remains easily accessible. Squatters have reportedly taken up residence, bringing vehicles onto the premises and accessing basic utilities such as electricity. Local authorities, including Binissalem Police and the Guardia Civil, have occasionally intervened due to issues involving these occupants.
The complex was first put on the market in 2013, with an asking price of €980,000. In 2014, it was purchased by a businessman from Moscari living in Mexico. After plans to convert the site into a private nursing home fell through, the property was relisted in 2019, this time with a price tag of €2.9 million.
A key obstacle has been the refusal by the Council of Mallorca to approve changes in land use, citing regulatory complications. The land lacks essential urban services, such as a proper sewage system, making reclassification and redevelopment difficult.
Six years on, no buyers have come forward. The derelict remains of the restaurants, nightclub, and castle stand precariously, increasingly vulnerable to collapse. The site has also become a dumping ground, stripped of anything valuable. Following numerous complaints from neighbors about litter and the presence of squatters, the property was fenced off in 2022—but the barrier is far from secure, allowing easy access.
The Foro’s fate echoes that of other abandoned leisure sites on the island, such as Alcudia’s Es Fogueró, which has been closed since 1992. As Mallorca evolves, these relics serve as poignant reminders of a bygone era of island entertainment, raising questions about preservation and future development.
