Commission recommends Palm Springs Air Museum lease extension, enabling planned expansion

The Palm Springs Airport Commission voted recently to recommend a 10-year lease extension for the Palm Springs Air Museum, paving the way for significant expansion plans at the popular attraction.

Fred Bell, general manager of the Palm Springs Air Museum, presented plans for new facilities and improvements that would be made possible by extending the lease, currently set to expire in 2035, through November 2045.

“We’re going to add two 2,000-square-foot buildings for 4,000 square feet total inside the existing curve line and then remodeling another 4,000 square feet inside the existing facility,” Bell told commissioners, explaining the planned expansion.

A centerpiece of the expansion is a new 200-seat classroom dedicated to educational programs. Bell said the museum currently provides free educational programs for about 5,000 children annually.

“We teach math, science, humanities,” Bell said. “All of those programs are provided to the kids at no charge. We’re one of the few facilities in the valley that does that.”

The expansion plans also include changes to improve visitor flow through the museum. Bell described plans for a new entry point and separate exit to reduce pedestrian traffic congestion.

Since its founding in 1995, the museum has grown substantially. Bell said the facility started with just 15 aircraft and now houses 75. The total investment in facilities has exceeded $20 million over that time.

According to Bell, the Air Museum generates approximately $35 million in direct economic benefit to Palm Springs annually. He noted that about 75% of museum visitors come from outside the area.

While the expansion project timeline was not specified, Bell indicated that design work is still ongoing. He assured commissioners that all new construction would use prefabricated metal buildings, similar to existing structures, to maintain consistency.

“We’re constantly reinvesting in the facility,” Bell said.

The lease extension recommendation will now go to the Palm Springs City Council for final approval.

---