OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — It’s been three years in the making, but Omaha’s historic Blackstone Hotel is back open -- this time, under a different name.
The Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel located near the corner of 36th and Farnam is welcoming guests back into the historic building.
Developers Clarity Development Company and Greenslate Development spent $75 million to restore what was once the Blackstone Hotel to its former glory.
“We appreciate and we applaud your choice to invest in Omaha's past, bringing pride and so much new development to the Blackstone neighborhood," said Mayor Jean Stothert.
The first guest to sign in on Tuesday was Carolyn Magid, granddaughter of the original hotel’s owner.
“It’s nostalgic, but they did a good job," Magid said. "It doesn’t look exactly the same, but it’s beautiful.”
The Cottonwood Hotel’s owners hope to capture some of the original magic of the Blackstone that once brought celebrities and presidents like John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon to Omaha.
“We’re hoping to bring back a lot of what it was," said Jay Lund of Greenslate Development said. "This is Omaha’s hotel; this is Omaha’s chance to have this caliber of property to our city.”
The hotel features 205 guest rooms - including 31 suites - a cocktail lounge, cafe, two grand ballrooms and an outdoor terrace that could compete for the best view of Omaha.
The Cottonwood will begin booking rooms starting this Friday. You can make a reservation at https://www.thecottonwoodhotel.com. The lounge and restaurants will be open for anyone wanting to visit.
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