What’s old is new again at the former TWA Flight Center.
The historic terminal, which opened in 1962, is now the centerpiece of a 512 room hotel at Kennedy Airport with mid-20th century décor, ranging from rotary phones and newspaper stands to vintage cars and an old-school arrivals and departures board.
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For its grand opening, the hotel assembled some former TWA workers and people wearing threads from the 60s.
"We had all kinds of people come in here, but they would come in here in awe,” said Peter Christopher Coyle, a former TWA agent.
The original terminal, with its iconic design by famed architect Eero Saarinen, closed in 2001 after TWA went into bankruptcy. Hotel officials say they tried to do more than preserve an iconic space. They hope the project captures the spirit of an era and the "golden age of aviation."
“Look at this building,” said Tyler Morse, the CEO of MCR Development. “I was drawn in as all of you here today have been. I was sucked into the magnificence of the TWA flight center.”
Guests also have a view of this 1958 plane known as the "Connie." Inside, it’s been transformed into a cocktail lounge where servers will bring a drink to your airplane seat.
“This rebirth says yes we can,” Governor Cuomo said at the event. “We haven’t lost our imagination, our creativity, our boldness.”
The development firm MCR spent more than $250 million renovating the old Flight Center, a city landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The new hotel features six restaurants, museum exhibitions, a rooftop observation deck and an infinity pool. Toni Marquez was a flight attendant for TWA and recalls meeting former first lady Barbara Bush on one of her shifts.
“I said, ‘Mrs. Bush, do you mind if we get a picture?'” She said, ‘Of course.’ She fluffed up her hair, and she put on her pearls,” said Ms. Marquez.
A terminal turned hotel that can now take you back in time to the Jet Age for rates starting at $249 per night. Officials say they also plan to offer day-rates where guests can book a room for a few hours.
For its grand opening, the hotel assembled some former TWA workers and people wearing threads from the 60s.
"We had all kinds of people come in here, but they would come in here in awe,” said Peter Christopher Coyle, a former TWA agent.
The original terminal, with its iconic design by famed architect Eero Saarinen, closed in 2001 after TWA went into bankruptcy. Hotel officials say they tried to do more than preserve an iconic space. They hope the project captures the spirit of an era and the "golden age of aviation."
“Look at this building,” said Tyler Morse, the CEO of MCR Development. “I was drawn in as all of you here today have been. I was sucked into the magnificence of the TWA flight center.”
Guests also have a view of this 1958 plane known as the "Connie." Inside, it’s been transformed into a cocktail lounge where servers will bring a drink to your airplane seat.
“This rebirth says yes we can,” Governor Cuomo said at the event. “We haven’t lost our imagination, our creativity, our boldness.”
The development firm MCR spent more than $250 million renovating the old Flight Center, a city landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The new hotel features six restaurants, museum exhibitions, a rooftop observation deck and an infinity pool. Toni Marquez was a flight attendant for TWA and recalls meeting former first lady Barbara Bush on one of her shifts.
“I said, ‘Mrs. Bush, do you mind if we get a picture?” She said, ‘Of course,’ she fluffed up her hair, and she put on her pearls,” said Ms. Marquez.
A terminal turned hotel that can now take you back in time to the Jet Age for rates starting at $249 per night. Officials say they also plan to offer day-rates where guests can book a room for a few hours.
For its grand opening, the hotel assembled some former TWA workers and people wearing threads from the 60s.
"We had all kinds of people come in here, but they would come in here in awe,” said Peter Christopher Coyle, a former TWA agent.
The original terminal, with its iconic design by famed architect Eero Saarinen, closed in 2001 after TWA went into bankruptcy. Hotel officials say they tried to do more than preserve an iconic space. They hope the project captures the spirit of an era and the "golden age of aviation."
“Look at this building,” said Tyler Morse, the CEO of MCR Development. “I was drawn in as all of you here today have been. I was sucked into the magnificence of the TWA flight center.”
Guests also have a view of this 1958 plane known as the "Connie." Inside, it’s been transformed into a cocktail lounge where servers will bring a drink to your airplane seat.
“This rebirth says yes we can,” Governor Cuomo said at the event. “We haven’t lost our imagination, our creativity, our boldness.”
The development firm MCR spent more than $250 million renovating the old Flight Center, a city landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The new hotel features six restaurants, museum exhibitions, a rooftop observation deck and an infinity pool. Toni Marquez was a flight attendant for TWA and recalls meeting former first lady Barbara Bush on one of her shifts.
“I said, ‘Mrs. Bush, do you mind if we get a picture?” She said, ‘Of course,’ she fluffed up her hair, and she put on her pearls,” said Ms. Marquez.
A terminal turned hotel that can now take you back in time to the Jet Age for rates starting at $249 per night. Officials say they also plan to offer day-rates where guests can book a room for a few hours.