About The Caliente Tropics Resort

Origins 1963 to 1964: Built in 1963 and opened in 1964 by motel developer Ken Kimes Sr. as the flagship of his Polynesian themed Tropics motor hotel chain with sister sites in Indio Blythe Modesto and Rosemead. Early promo and press around the grand opening ran in 1963. The property featured large tikis including Oceanic Arts pieces and a huge resort pool.

Swinging 1960s: The Tropics drew celebrity traffic including Sinatra’s Rat Pack and Elvis during
Palm Springs’ mid century heyday.

Changes and name: Over the decades the complex evolved. Nearby condo units were annexed in the early 1960s and later spun off in 2000. The hotel became known as Caliente Tropics.

Tiki revival era: The Caliente Tropics played an important role in the modern tiki revival. In the early 2000s it hosted the first years of the Tiki Oasis festival before that event grew too large and moved to San Diego. In 2008 Rory Snyder launched the annual Tiki Caliente weekender at the hotel cementing it as a modern tiki hub. He later added Mod Palm Springs. The on site bar space was reborn as The Reef in March 2017 bringing classic tropical cocktails back to the poolside A frame.

Today Caliente Tropics is a preserved slice of mid century Polynesian Pop part resort part living tiki museum still hosting tiki gatherings and poolside cocktailing under the palms.