Historic hotel in Omaha’s Blackstone District embraces rich past and looks to the future following property-wide renovation and restoration.
OMAHA, NE – After much anticipation, the former Blackstone Hotel will reopen as the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel in spring 2020. The hotel name plays homage to the Blackstone Hotel’s original Cottonwood Room bar, which featured a magnificent cottonwood tree emerging from the center of the expansive circular bar. The Kimpton branded hotel will be managed by Pivot Hotels & Resorts.
The Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel will be comprised of 205 guestrooms including 15 suites, a signature steakhouse and lounge, a classically French-inspired cafe, high tea served daily, a resort-style swimming pool, solarium, and over 13,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor meetings and events spaces, including two ballrooms. The eight-story building, a prime example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture, was declared an Omaha Landmark in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Significant historical and design elements of the original hotel will be restored as part of the $75 million-dollar renovation.
The opening of the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel is a key development in the renaissance of the Blackstone District. The hotel developers, principals of Clarity Development and GreenSlate Development, have played an important role in the rebirth of the area over the last seven years.
“It has been personally a very rewarding exercise to revive the Blackstone Hotel as the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel,” said developer Thomas McLeay. “We are proud to introduce the property as an anchor in the community as we continue to pave the way in the revitalization of the district.”
Originally opened in 1916, the former Blackstone Hotel had a storied history and was a fixture within the Blackstone District. In its heyday, the hotel became a symbol of elegance and the crown jewel of Omaha. The hotel was not only a destination for the biggest celebrities and dignitaries such as Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt, but was also the epicenter of the city’s social scene.
The Reuben sandwich was invented by Reuben Kulakofsky during a weekly poker game held at the hotel and the sandwich was later introduced to the world in 1925 on a hotel menu. The hotel also contributed to culinary history with the debut of butter brickle ice cream in the 1920s.
“For over a century the Blackstone Hotel has been a fundamental part of Omaha’s cultural fabric, hosting countless family celebrations, weddings and events honoring all of life’s milestones,” said Jay Lund, Principal at GreenSlate Development. “This rebirth represents a renewal of the Blackstone’s historic role in Omaha and a continuation of its great legacy.”
In advance of the spring 2020 opening, Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel will be selling gift certificates through the holidays, beginning Black Friday, November 29, from their Sales Office located at 3904 Farnam. Omahans looking for an incredibly unique holiday gift – that includes a hint of local nostalgia – can purchase the gift certificates for friends and family. Visitors will get a sneak peek at renderings of Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel and have the opportunity to learn more about hosting guests and events at the hotel in 2020. The sales office can be reached at 402.810.9500.
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