Any idea why it closed - and why the people who tried to sell it didn't sell off any of the contents?? It's always sort of strange when everything is left behind - it sounds like they were trying to make some bucks off of it.

It closed in August 2002. The owner died and the widow did'nt want the hotel. Official version is that is was getting difficult to make money out of this place and the owner (the widow) thought that she could get a good price out of selling it because it's really REALLY right downtown Shediac, it's a prime location, right on Main Street.
Colliers Int'l was the real estate company responsible for selling the place but since (at that time) the municipal council publicly said that they might not deliver a permit to demolish it, if bought by someone who would just want the land, then, no offer came in. It was for sale for about 1 year and half. A few groups were interested, mostly community groups (boys and Girls clubs, Scouts, etc.) but none of them had the financial backing to support such a buy. Near the end, the selling price was $225,000. Quite a deal between you and me. Really.
Since no one offered to buy it, the Town of Shédiac bought it for a ridiculous amount. A committee was then created to study and explore the possibilities the place had to offer. A cultural center, since Shédiac does hot have one, was one of the best option. The members of the committee really wanted to save the place from demolition, this was their prime goal and they tought that since the Capitol Theatre was saved a decade earlier in Moncton, They could also saved the Hotel Shédiac. So, the Town of Shediac aggreed to pay for a feasibility study that would see if first, this building was "savable" (structurally, etc.) and second, what could we use it for.
Then, municipal elections came (may 2004) and the mayor was ousted out in part for a fountain he autorized in front of the new city hall, which cost more than twice the budget allocated for it (for a grand total over $250,000). Which fountain, by the way, is now in front of the Hotel Shediac and in which some wicked people discovered that putting a bottle of bubble bath would turn the thing into a big sea of bubbles...(and this happen on a weekly basis).
Anyway, the new mayor knowing first hand that stupid expenses is what permitted him to win the election, he is now super very careful about spending each dime. So, two weeks ago, when the feasability study was presented to the municipal council for adoption (study that the citizens paid for, of course), the council refused to adopt the report (not the conclusions or recommendations in it, just the report). This makes the report confidential and no public has access to it, although the citizens paid for it.
Since the feasability study was not adopted and now that no one can see the report, well, the council will see one last time if someone would be interested in buying the place and if no one come forward, well, it will be demolished. Actually, it could be demolished as early as this month (august 2004!).
The study basically recommended to demolish the newer section (1960's +) but to keep the old original portion of the building. It pointed out that the roof need to be replaced but that the structure of the building is in relatively good shape considering the place was not heated last winter.
Lots of vandalism now, even squatters in a room on the third floor. Although the electricity is still on, the squatter uses candles (don't know why, I did not ask) so of course, between me and you, it's just a question of time before they fall asleep and one of the candles get the whole place (all wood) on fire, unfortunately.
And between you and me, this might even make some people happy because the City would not look as bad as if they would demolish it, they would get insurance for it and they would get a great, super prime location right downtown on Main Street, they could get mucho dollars for the land and mucho dollars from the taxes on whatever would be built.

Thanks for the info maZe It's appreciated.