DeSoto Area Chamber

Boutique Hotel Renovation from Vintage Holidome in Desoto

Born from a retro Holiday Inn Holidome, the new 148-key boutique hotel blends rich history with contemporary flair

DALLAS (March 6, 2025) – What used to be a mini amusement park set within a Holiday Inn – formally known as a Holidome – will now be a modern boutique hospitality experience in the charming town of Desoto, Texas. The iconic, decades-old Holidome and Desoto’s rich history are the design inspiration behind Radisson. Pickard Design Studio, a female-led, Dallas-based design firm, has been selected to design custom-built interiors for the hotel.

Most recently operated as a Magnuson Grand hotel, the new Radisson will have 148 rooms, including two-story suites with personal indoor balconies. Guest amenities include a bar, private wine room, Italian coffee shop, indoor pool, a kids zone with an arcade area, a plethora of meeting space, a library area, an atrium lounge space and an expansive outdoor patio. The hotel is 16 miles from Downtown Dallas in Desoto, where the centuries-old city intertwines rich cultural heritage with contemporary flair, painting a vivid tapestry of history and modernity. Radisson is one of nine distinctive brands from The Radisson Hotel Group, an international hotel chain.

As illustrated in new renderings, Pickard Design Studio’s reimagination of the interiors includes an inviting color palette inspired by the dusk sunset, shades of terracotta, green and gold, with washes of pink and blue found in finishes and fabrics. The design captures the blend of modern linear mixed with organic lines to represent original Dallas architecture, and the flow of the Trinity River and Ten Mile Creek that runs through Desoto. These design elements are combined within the hotel’s branded Modern Mediterranean aesthetic.

lobby rendering

“Desoto is a vibrant city with a strong sense of family and community,” said Sarah Pickard, founder of Pickard Design Studio. “Throughout the design, our goal was to reimagine a retro landmark to create a warm and modern environment, that not only hotel guests will enjoy, but the local community will engage with using the amenity spaces as places to gather and connect. We are thoughtfully retrofitting the design of the original Holidome to introduce a new hospitality experience that is unique to Desoto.”

In addition, Pickard Design Studio found opportunities to incorporate and partner with local artists through Desoto’s residency artist program. The DeSoto Artists Lab (DAL)

Texas Trust Donates $7,000 to DeSoto’s Cockrell Hill Elementary to Send Student Hunger Packing

ARLINGTON, Texas – – Desoto ISD’s Cockrell Hill Elementary Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack program (CHIPP) got a boost from Texas Trust Credit Union. Its donation of $7,000 will provide non-perishable food to keep students from going hungry over weekends and during school breaks.

Through CHIPP, Cockrell Hill elementary provides “power pack” backpacks filled with nutritious food for 100 students each Friday to ensure they have something healthy to eat over the weekend until they return to school. Each power pack contains breakfast, lunch and snacks for two days, along with a can of vegetables and fruit.

Students who come to school hungry have difficulty focusing, which negatively impacts their ability to learn. The Cockrell Hill CHIPP program, which began during the 2023-2024 school year, helps care for the students whose families may be struggling to put food on the table.

“When children are hungry, they are distracted and not likely to do well in school,” said Velisha Mosby, DeSoto ISD PTA Council President. “Our power pack program supplements children’s meals at home so they can eat well and come to school prepared to learn.”

Mosby added, “We are grateful to Texas Trust for their donation and concern about our students’ well-being.”

The power pack backpacks generally contain enough food to replace the meals a child would receive at school. The program is managed by volunteers affiliated with The Pearls of the Ivy Foundation, Inc. and overseen by the Desoto ISD PTA Council executive board.

In addition, volunteers from Texas Trust, alongside community volunteers, help prepare the bags for distribution every month.

“Inflation is having a significant impact on families, which is increasing food insecurity among children,” said Toni Nichols, Public Relations Manager for Texas Trust Credit Union. “Through this program we are able to have a direct impact on student success and help build a stronger community.”

Texas Trust was able to support the Cockrell Hill Elementary CHIPP program through a grant it received from the Cornerstone Foundation, the charitable arm of the Cornerstone Credit Union League.

The post Texas Trust Donates $7,000 to DeSoto’s Cockrell Hill Elementary to Send Student Hunger Packing appeared first on Focus Daily News.

DeSoto, TX Winter Storm Closures 1/10/25

DESOTO, TX WINTER WEATHER UPDATE | JAN 9, 9:08 AM

Due to the inclement weather, City of DeSoto offices and facilities are closed today, Thursday, January 9th and Friday, January 10th. For winter weather updates and resources visit our online Winter Weather Hub at desototexas.gov/weather.

WARMING CENTER

The Warming Center will be open today, January 9, 2025 through Friday, January 10, 2025 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please note that the center’s hours may be subject to change based on facility conditions. Be sure to check this page regularly for any updates on the warming center schedule and weather-related announcements. Location: City of DeSoto Civic Center-Bluebonnet Room, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, TX

DeSoto ISD

Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, DeSoto ISD schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, Jan 9, 2025 and Friday, Jan 10, 2025.
Campuses and offices are expected to reopen for normal business on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Neighborhood Collaboration Workshop VIRTUALLY/Utilities Blitz Canceled

EVENT UPDATE: Due to the winter storm, the Neighborhood Collaboration Workshop will now be held VIRTUALLY and the Utilities Blitz event has been CANCELED.

Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025

Platform: VIRTUAL on Zoom

Revised Schedule:
Session 1: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Session 2: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

CLICK THIS LINK to join available sessions. You do not need to register. https://www.ci.desoto.tx.us/…/homeowners_and…/index.php
If you have pre-registered, you will receive a direct link to your classes via email.

PLEASE NOTE: The Utility Assistance Blitz has been CANCELED!

DeSoto Community Views Rescheduled

desoto community event

EVENT UPDATE: Due to the expected weather conditions, the Community Views event with Councilmember Pierette Parker and Councilmember Nicole Raphiel has been rescheduled to Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 5:30pm to 7pm.

It will take place at The Shops of Grow DeSoto, located at 324 East Belt Line Rd.

The post DeSoto, TX Winter Storm Closures 1/10/25 appeared first on Focus Daily News.

Arlington NO TRASH on 1/9/25

arlington trash collection graphic

Due to the severe winter weather forecast and expected icy road conditions, Republic Services has announced it will only collect residential, commercial, and industrial garbage carts and containers in Arlington on Thursday, Jan. 9. This change in service is designed to allow drivers to safely finish their routes earlier in the day before street conditions are expected to deteriorate.

Residential recycling and bulk garbage will not occur on Thursday, Jan. 9: https://bit.ly/4jaYiZi

DeSoto NO TRASH COLLECTION on 1/9/25

Due to anticipated weather conditions, Republic Services will not be running residential trash pick-up tomorrow, Thursday, January 9, 2025. They will assess the weather conditions tomorrow and provide an update regarding Friday’s trash service.
Stay informed by checking our website Winter Storm Hub for updates, city closures and resources at www.desototexas.gov/weather.

Grand Prairie NO TRASH Collection on 1/9/25

Grand Prairie garbage graphic

There will be no residential garbage or recycling collection on Thursday, January 9. Commercial and industrial garbage collection will take place in the morning, and the Landfill will close at 11 a.m. that day.

The post Trash Collection Impacted By Winter Weather January 9 2025 appeared first on Focus Daily News.

DeSoto Police Respond to Armed Suspect, Resulting in Fatal Shooting and Ongoing Investigation

The City of DeSoto and the DeSoto Police Department are deeply committed to transparency and the safety of our community. We are issuing the following statement regarding an officer-involved shooting that occurred today.

On December 13, 2024, at 10:39 AM, DeSoto police dispatch received a 911 hang-up call from a residence in the 1000 block of Hunter’s Creek Dr. Upon reestablishing contact, the caller identified himself as twenty-six-year-old Arthur Lee Armstrong, Jr. and stated that he had “several” weapons and wanted to harm police. Desoto Police Department patrol officers responded to the location after a second caller confirmed that Armstrong was at the location with multiple other residents and armed with a knife.

Upon arrival at the location, officers encountered Armstrong in the front yard of the residence. Armstrong, armed with a knife in each hand, immediately approached officers aggressively and disregarded multiple commands from officers to stop and drop the weapons. As Armstrong continued to close the distance between himself and the officers, one DeSoto officer fired a single round from a patrol rifle, striking Armstrong in the chest. Officers disarmed Armstrong and immediately began lifesaving measures. Armstrong was transported to Central Methodist Hospital by DeSoto EMS but was ultimately pronounced deceased upon arrival.

At the request of the DeSoto Police Department, officers from the Major Crimes Unit of the Grand Prairie Police Department’s Investigative Services Bureau responded to the scene and are heading up the investigation of the incident. Additionally, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Unit was contacted, and an investigator from the unit was dispatched to conduct an independent investigation of the incident. The officer who discharged his patrol rifle during this incident was placed on paid administrative leave, per DeSoto Police Department policy, while the above investigations are conducted.

We understand the profound impact incidents like this have on our community, the individuals involved, and their families. The DeSoto Police Department has initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, and we are committed to sharing information as it becomes available.

A press conference will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, December 16th, at the DeSoto Police Department to provide additional information regarding the incident.

The post DeSoto Police Respond to Armed Suspect, Resulting in Fatal Shooting and Ongoing Investigation appeared first on Focus Daily News.

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