Charles Phoenix Celebrates Christmas with SoCal Landmarks

Charles Phoenix to Illuminate Iconic Palm Springs Gas Station

This Friday, entertainer Charles Phoenix will launch a vibrant display of Christmas lights at a historic midcentury gas station in Palm Springs, now repurposed as the Palm Springs Visitor Center. Christmas festivities seem to be arriving earlier each year, as Phoenix prepares to make the station shine for the holiday season—a site he describes as “screaming to be lit!”

The building, designed by renowned architects Albert Frey and Robson Chambers in 1965, originally served as the Tramway gas station. It has remained unlit for its entire history until now. The station was at risk of demolition in the 1990s due to proposed development that never materialized, but efforts to preserve it helped ignite a surge in midcentury architecture appreciation and historic preservation in the region.

“When I had this crazy idea to light it up, I thought, who do I call? Peter Moruzzi!” Phoenix recalled, referring to the founder of the Palm Springs Modern Committee. Moruzzi, who recently received the group’s lifetime achievement award, was quick to join the effort, though it took two years of perseverance to secure city approval for the project.

Phoenix’s lighting endeavors have previously transformed several landmarks across the Los Angeles area, starting with the iconic Wigwam Motel in Rialto. His portfolio has since expanded to include the 1960s space capsule at the Columbia Memorial Space Center, the Big Boy statue at Bob’s Big Boy Broiler, and Vince’s Spaghetti in Ontario. Looking ahead, he hopes to take on more L.A. landmarks in the future, but this year’s focus is on Palm Springs.

“The world needs more color,” Phoenix stated, emphasizing his commitment to festive flair this holiday season. The display will utilize multicolored LED lights from Tru-Tone, designed to mimic classic holiday lighting. Phoenix has planned an entertaining atmosphere complete with music and a hot cocoa truck. The lighting event, organized with sponsorship from Tru-Tone, is free to the public.

The holiday lighting of the Palm Springs Visitor Center is scheduled for Friday at 4:30 PM.