The renovated Hotel Blackhawk was unveiled on 15 December 2010, reclaiming its original name and prominent stature in the Quad-Cities. Said to be the oldest continuously-operating hotel site in Iowa, the restored hotel is now resplendent from the renovation.
Restoration Saint Louis, a hotel restoration/renovation company that led the renovation, aspired to bring back the see-and-be-seen vibe once synonymous with Hotel Blackhawk. High-end retail stores, 19 upscale residential units and 52 indulgently spacious suites, which account for half of the guestroom inventory, have been added. New amenities include a premier spa, Spa Luce, complimentary Internet access, a business centre, an airport shuttle, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, an indoor heated pool and exclusive tee times at the private TPC Deere Run country club.
The enhanced hotel property also boasts a total of 10,000 square feet of function space for impressive, productive meetings and business events. Contemporary American cuisine Bix Bistro and casual dining venue Beignet Done That are some other additions. Amenities designed to entertain children include a bowling alley, game room/amusement centre and special programmes and menus are also featured.
The Gold Room, an events space, also underwent refurbishment. Part of a floor has been removed to re-create an atrium between the first floor lobby and the ceiling for the reinstallation of the sky light creating the once original historic look.
The 15 completely renovated rooms are furnished with sleek platform king beds, ‘mood’ lighting and furniture, wall-mount flat-screen TVs, ‘retro’ look carpet and bedding, as well as cable TV, high-speed wireless Internet capability and free parking.
The Blackhawk Hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The renovation team took great care to retain the historic character of the original building, while offering the modern conveniences of a refined hotel.
Hotel Blackhawk was originally opened in 1915. By the 1920s, the hotel’s owners were able to add four more floors to the original seven-storey structure, creating a glorious 11-storey, 400-room brick hotel. In April 2009, the property was sold to Restoration Saint Louis, under whose wings the restoration scheme was undertaken.
