PALM SPRINGS, CA — March 31, 2022 — This May, a new boutique hotel will join the ranks of the desert’s most eye-catching destination and dining spots: The Paloma Resort, a full-service resort hotel located just south of downtown Palm Springs in the heart of Southern California’s Coachella Valley.
The Paloma is a partnership between the property developers, local restaurateur Chad Gardner, and Tim and Amy Brinkman; the Brinkmans are the power couple behind LIT hospitality group, a San Francisco-based firm that is quietly building a boutique hotel empire in the California desert. The group invested $12.5 million over two phases to renovate the property (the site of the once-beloved gay-friendly Villa Resort) and restore it to a hotel after a brief stint as an active senior community.
“This property has a unique history that parallels that of the Coachella Valley,” says Amy Brinkman. “In the 1930s, the site was a date palm grove and shortly thereafter became the area’s first beauty resort, founded by the Elizabeth Arden Corporation. Agriculture and resorts are the two forces that really shaped and built the desert, so we were inspired to weave that history into the experience of The Paloma Resort.”
Featuring 66 modernist bungalows and suites, the resort juxtaposes mid-century architecture against the property’s central feature, a mission-style Adobe built in the 1930s that was restored and reimagined during LIT’s renovation. “We love the complimentary contrast of the desert’s two most prominent architectural styles and elected to play up these features in both the design and the property’s story,” she continues.
The Paloma will also be a showcase for local talent, with iconic Palm Springs names spearheading the hotel’s design, restaurant, and spa.
Design: The Brinkmans worked with Palm Springs’ H3K Home + Design to create the vision for The Paloma’s singular aesthetic, which combines clean lines, popping colors, and place-based influences. The 66 bungalows and suites sport the names of nearby communities—The Joshua Tree, The Palm Desert, The Palm Springs, The Coachella, and The Rancho Mirage—with décor to reflect each locale’s distinct influences, ranging from hipster artists to Hollywood auteurs. High-tech features, such as contactless check-in and in-room tablets in lieu of house phones, add a contemporary touch.
Food + Drink: Palm Springs hospitality icon Chad Gardner is the culinary force behind The Paloma’s indoor/outdoor restaurant, Sol y Sombra, a tapas-style spot housed in the poolside Adobe. Gardner–who helms four of Palm Springs’ most highly-regarded restaurants–tapped the desert’s agricultural roots as inspiration for Sol y Sombra, which will incorporate local ingredients like dates, grapefruit and chilis into its menu of shareable small plates and signature drinks. Cocktail connoisseurs will appreciate the tableside bar cart, where mixologists will craft custom concoctions based on guests’ preferences or serve up house specialties like the Paloma Oro, a premium drink featuring gold-flecked tequila and fresh-squeezed Oro Blanco grapefruit juice. Fans of fine tequila and those in the know may also find their way to the property’s speakeasy, Poca Sombra… shhh.
Spa: Known for their Palm Canyon spa, Grounded Bodyworks is bringing their signature wellness offerings to The Paloma Resort with the opening of their second location, Grounded at The Paloma. Combining plant-based products, botanicals and essential oils, their curated treatments will help guests relax and rejuvenate.
With its stunning 360-degree mountain views and central location, The Paloma Resort will be an ideal destination for those looking to immerse themselves in all that the region has to offer, from hiking to golf, and festivals to shopping.
