OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - — A historic site is getting more than a few modern upgrades over the next few months.
The Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel is set to open in Spring 2020.
"The building itself is an icon," Greenslate Developer Jay Lund said.
The Blackstone Hotel opened more than 100 years ago.
"We are trying to revitalize it back to its original grander," Lund said. "A lot of that is bringing the historic lobby back to life."
The most significant change is its name.
Trademark rules forced the Blackstone Hotel to become the Kimpton Cottonwood, by Lund says it's a rebirth.
"There's the famous Cottonwood room that is now the hotel's namesake, that was one of the most famous bars in all the land for many many years," he said. "So we're bringing that back to life, that's in the lower level of the hotel along with the steakhouse."
Despite the new name, Lund tells 3 News Now they're working to keep some the Blackstone Hotel's original architecture.
"We see this as a new chapter for the building, it has not been a hotel for more than 40 years and this in a significant investment that is being made," he said.
The new space features an additional wing to the west of the original building.
It also includes 205 rooms (15 of them are suites), and 13,500 square feet of in and outdoor event space.
"When they walk in the lobby of the hotel I think the immediate reaction should be wow, where has this building you know for the last 40 years," Lund said.
He also tells us, there's a ton of buzz around its opening.
At least 10 people have booked events for the next year.
"We're just really excited for everybody to see the finished product," Lund said.
