Palm Springs is an architectural oasis in the California desert, home to iconic buildings by the pioneers of desert modernism. These include architects such as Richard Neutra, John Lautner, E. Stewart Williams, Donald Wexler, William Krisel, and Albert Frey.
One of the first sights many visitors see as they drive into Palm Springs is the Palm Springs Visitor Center designed by Albert Frey and Robson Chambers. It is also among the most memorable.
Albert Frey Originally Designed the Center as a Gas Station
Albert Frey and Robson Chambers were commissioned to design an Enco service station in North Palm Springs at the start of the Tramway Road, which leads up to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Visitors who were traveling to Palm Springs on California State Route 111 would see this building before they saw any other part of Palm Springs. So, it needed to capture the spirit of Palm Springs and its iconic desert modernism.
The building has a pretty simple, straightforward design, since it served the practical function of a gas station. Its most defining feature is its projecting roof in the shape of a hyperbolic paraboloid. This ribbed galvanized steel panel roof covered the station itself along with its six pumps and three service bays.
You will notice that where the concrete blocks of the structure form a corner, every other row is cut at a different angle, giving them a textured look. This was a common architectural “signature” for Frey. The station opened in 1965.
Like far too many Mid Century Modern buildings, the gas station fell into disuse and danger decades later. During the 90s, it was unclear if the structure would even survive. Thankfully, it was purchased in 2000 as an art gallery. A couple years later, the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism acquired it, and gave it a new function. It has been the Palm Springs Visitor Center ever since.
The Palm Springs Visitor Center Today
After the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism acquired the gas station, they set about remodeling the interior, adding a parking lot and another building with restrooms, and making the landscaping resistant to drought.
The visitor center is open every day of the week from 10 am to 5 pm, closing only for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Stop by to stretch your legs after a long drive, pick up maps and brochures, and shop for souvenirs. If you have questions about the city, you can consult with the staff, who can offer you tips and ideas for what to see and do in Palm Springs. Remember, the nearby Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a great place to start your adventure.
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Albert Frey’s Historic Aluminaire House Finds a New Home and A 1946 Albert Frey Home is a Postwar Wonder.
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