Formerly known as the Blackstone Hotel, the property will reopen as the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel in spring 2020. Located in the Blackstone District, the oldest neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska, the lively area is home to some of the city’s best bars, restaurants and nightlife. Its new name, Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel pays tribute to the original Blackstone Hotel’s Cottonwood Room bar that housed a Cottonwood tree growing from the center of the circular bar.
“For over a century, the Blackstone Hotel was a fundamental part of Omaha’s cultural fabric. 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 hotel will reopen in spring 2020 as the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel. It will represent a renewal of the Blackstone’s historic role in the city and will anchor this coveted neighborhood which is already filled with popular food and drink venues,” says James Schelnick, director of sales & marketing of Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel.
With 170,000 square feet of space, the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel will have 205 guestrooms including 15 suites, a resort-style swimming pool, solarium, Wi-Fi, concierge service, dry cleaning, laundry, newspaper delivery and fitness center. With about 13,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, including a historic ballroom with two rooftop gardens and the new ballroom with a more contemporary feel that overlooks the pool and event lawn, Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel is the perfect venue for hosting weddings.
“Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel captures the true spirit of Omaha as a destination with unrivaled hospitality and spirit. Since it is a historic renovation, the hotel’s revival will take cues from the past and will work to retain the building’s original language and elegance. The former Blackstone Hotel earned a reputation as the best hotel between Chicago and the Pacific, and the revived hotel will once again sit at the helm of the city’s social scene,” Schelnick says.
