Ghost hotel in Imperial is getting brought back to life
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - What was once known as the Imperial "ghost hotel" because it was abandoned for ten years, will finally be renovated into a Cambria Hotel.
It has been bought by a developer, Gafcon, on December 3rd, who is now taking on this project.
Gafcon is a family-owned company that has been around for 35 years and has worked in the Imperial Valley before. They pride themselves in working on projects that benefit the community.
Paul Najar, Senior Vice President of Gafcon, is happy to be a part of this 22 million dollar project in Imperial Valley where he says everyone can enjoy themselves.
"We imagined what it could be and what the surrounding property of it could be, so we're very excited to take it on," Najar said.
Najar has history here. His dad opened a medical practice in Brawley 40 years ago, which is why this project means so much to him.
"To me, this is a very personal project. I'm invested in it. My family is invested in it. This is for me...is a legacy project to kind of honor my dad's love for the Imperial Valley," Najar stated.
Gafcon has a strong partnership with the City of Imperial.
Alexis Brown, Assistant City Manager for the City of Imperial, says the City of Imperial has long awaited for such an opportunity, but knows there will be challenges.
"The challenges of the project is overcoming what has been there and what is known as the Imperial Ghost Hotel. Being able to remove that perception and replace it with excitement and enthusiasm for what the northend commercial will be," Brown said.
Cambria Hotel Imperial is an 18 acre property that will have 108 guest rooms, a bar, a large room to host events and even an indoor pool.
Najar says this will also bring a lot of well paying jobs to the area.
There will be about 150 jobs for the construction as well as ongoing jobs for operation of the hotel that would be long-term.
Gacon's goal is to exceed expectations and deliver a hotel that everyone in the community will be proud of.
"Our vision is to make this the finest hotel in Imperial Valley. Incorporating all the best of the history..culture and people of the valley..actually in the interior design," Najar said.
The groundbreaking will be on March 11th and the hotel is set to be up and running by this time next year.
