(Picture of Thompson Hotel Room Complete With Furniture)
Palm Springs, CA
We’ve done a few stories now on the progress of the long awaited Thompson Hotel set to open later on this year at the junction of Downtown Palm Springs and the Uptown Design District. Back in May 2023, a number of media outlets including the Palm Springs Tribune got to tour the construction site of one of Palm Springs most anticipated hotel projects.
At the time, I was impressed by how much work had been done inside the development but was skeptical of a December 2023 opening. Fast forward to March 2024 and I got to do another tour. I’m happy to report, much progress has been made.
Yes we are all well aware the hotel site has sat languishing for years, causing quite an eye sore on the otherwise beautiful Palm Canyon Drive but, keep in mind, many of those years were prior to when the current owner Craig Hall took over the project in full in 2020, buying out the former controlling entity. This was the same year the Covid pandemic shut down the country.
Since then, the new owners have been working diligently to complete the project which spans 2 1/2 city blocks in Palm Springs.
Here is what I observed on my most recent visit:
-The new front entrance street carved out to the hotel lobby now has brick sidewalks put down, new Palm trees, plants, and other foliage installed.
-Palm Trees have been planted around the outside of the hotel.
-Multiple rooms are complete with furniture being installed in additional rooms.
-Outdoor hallways are now complete in sections of the hotel with more hallways getting closer to completion.
-Accents like wood paneling, walls designed for murals to be installed, newly painted spaces including meeting rooms, and ceiling beams are in various spaces throughout the hotel.
-Kitchen equipment has arrived for the Middle Eastern Inspired Kitchen and Bar named Lola Rose. The restaurant will be open to the public and accessed from both inside the hotel and a separate entrance on the outside of the hotel.
-The space around the main pool is much further along.
-Hundreds of plants are now firmly planted within the hotel space and more plants are set to be planted.
-Construction workers were scattered about the site working on a variety of projects.
(Rending of Front Entrance Once Complete)
(Rendering of Lola Rose, a Middle Eastern Inspired Kitchen at Thompson Palm Springs)
(Rendering Of Main Pool Once Fully Complete)
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
We know the Palm Springs community has been waiting… and waiting…. and waiting for this hotel project to be done. The latest projections for the first phase opening is later this fall. All I can say is, whether that target date is hit, it won’t be for a lack of trying.
With that, I’m putting good energy out there for the hotel group. They are working hard and are creating a space that thousands will come to enjoy in the future.
Eric Gray is Editor-in-chief for the Palm Springs Tribune. He covers everything from real estate, restaurant, and entertainment, to public safety, airport, and local development.
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