Palm Springs' Movie Colony Hotel Re-opens After Extensive Renovation

WHY IT RATES: With the re-opening of this hotel that was once an iconic celebrity hot spot, the Movie Colony Hotel is sure to draw crowds for its history, new design and boutique atmosphere. —Alex Temblador, TravelPulse Associate Writer

Frank Sinatra partied here. Marilyn Monroe slept here. Jim Morrison jumped into the pool here – from his second-floor balcony! Now the legendary Movie Colony Hotel, which closed for renovations in 2015, is ready to write the latest chapter in its amazing history.

The 16-room property sits at the edge of Palm Springs’ “Movie Colony” neighborhood, where Golden Age film stars like Cary Grant, Jack Benny, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh once owned vacation homes. The neighborhood’s many high walls, thick hedges and a lack of sidewalks are reminders of how the stars valued their privacy.

But the Movie Colony Hotel is also famous as the first hotel designed by master architect Albert Frey in 1935. For the devotees of architecture who flock to Palm Springs each year for Modernism Week, it’s an important touchstone.

In renovating the property, it was important to keep the mid-century modern integrity of the Movie Colony Hotel. “The whole premise of revitalizing this property,” says Paul Darrall of LA-based Darrall Design Consultants, “was to make necessary improvements so the hotel re-establishes itself as one of the keynote properties in the Desert.”

To that end, Frey’s celebrated design has been reimagined and enhanced to improve the guest experience. The architect’s original two-story “townhouses” have been recast into duplex suites. Warm woods, splashes of color and comfortable sofas and chairs have been added throughout the public and guest areas. The sun-drenched pool area, with a fantastic view of the breathtaking San Jacinto mountains, has been enlivened by bright textile accents in yellow and white.

With such a pedigree, the Movie Colony Hotel is expected to be a favorite rendezvous for guests visiting Palm Springs for seasonal events like the International Film Festival (PSIFF), Modernism Week, Coachella, Stagecoach, Robolights and more.

Best of all, the Movie Colony Hotel is in the middle of Palm Springs’ vibrant Uptown Design District, where visitors can find some of the city’s trendiest restaurants, art galleries, shops and more – all within walking distance.

The Movie Colony Hotel features:

– 16 guest rooms with pillowtop beds, in-room safes, Keurig® coffee makers and elegant plantation shutters. Most rooms have patios or balconies.

– A central courtyard, where a complimentary continental breakfast bar of bagels, fresh seasonal fruit, juices and French-pressed coffee is served daily, and a patio bar opens each evening.

– Restaurant, bar and room services from its sister property, the Triada Palm Springs, which is next door.

The Movie Colony Hotel is located at 726 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, and can be reached by calling 760-284-1600 or online, https://www.moviecolonyhotel.com. It is owned and operated by Pacifica Host Hotels.

SOURCE: Pacifica Host Hotels press release