Palm Springs' Spa Resort Hotel Closing Doors After 51 Years Today

The 51-year-old Spa Resort hotel in Palm Springs is closing Tuesday.

The closure of the tribe's hotel, spa and fitness center affects about 150 employees, while the hotel's casino will stay open and undergo improvements, according to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which announced the closure in May.

"We are reviewing concepts and considering our options to identify the necessary steps to preserve this key landmark in downtown and rejuvenate the property around it," tribal Chairman Jeff Grubbe said then, noting that it "has been more than 50 years since we've made significant investments in and around this valued cultural resource."

The 229-room hotel opened in 1963 at the site of the hot mineral spring for which the tribe and Palm Springs were named.

The tribe, which also owns the Agua Caliente casino in Rancho Mirage, plans to "continue to invest in its downtown locations and make this site a major anchor for the future of Palm Springs," according to its statement.

Tribal officials said in May that the tribe would help find employees find positions with other nearby resorts or within the organization.

– City News Service.