Rancho Mirage landmark to be torn down

Eight months ago, huge flames engulfed the famous Gigi’s Island Restaurant, destroying the Coachella Valley landmark. For months, it stood quiet and charred.
Now, it’s fate is finally decided.

“We’ve been told that Mr. (John) Wessman will be coming in this week to pull demolition permits and that the demolition of the old restaurant is eminent,” Rancho Mirage Mayor Scott Hines said.

What many feared for this Ken Kellog designed building will happen – it will be torn down.

“It’s devastating to the city. It’s an architectural landmark. It’s a significant property,” Hines said.

It’s built into the mountain, with a berm on the south side which kept the temperature inside comfortable year round. Considered one of the great examples of organic architecture in California, the city of Rancho Mirage designated it a landmark.

“How it’s built partly above ground, partly into the ground. The layout of the restaurant. The design of it is so futuristic compared to what it was,” Palm Springs resident Johnny Hildreth said.

After the fire, estimates to restore the building ran into the millions of dollars.

“The financials just don’t make sense. It’s a total loss. To rebuild it as is would just be too cost prohibitive,” Hines said.

We got reaction to the building being torn down. Many people we talked with don’t want to see it happen.

“It was ahead of its time. To bring that back, would be important for the Coachella Valley,” Hildreth said. “We need to have the landmark back.”

“We just hope that something is built there that is as stunning as the old property,” Hines said.

Mayor Hines doesn’t know when it will be torn down or what will take its place. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.