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How Design, History, and Technology Are Transforming the Coachella Valley’s Sunset Limited Train

“This project is about honoring that legacy and inviting people to  

rediscover it in a whole new way.” 

Gloria Franz, Board Trustee | Coachella Valley History Museum 

A forgotten relic of mid-century travel is getting a spectacular second life in the Coachella Valley. The Coachella Valley History Museum’s Sunset Limited rail car, a 1951 Southern Pacific sleeper, once carried passengers across America. Its steel wheels echo over desert tracks that helped shape the cities we know today. Now, more than seventy years later, this historic train is being reborn as a one-of-a-kind immersive venue that celebrates the region’s railway heritage through design, storytelling, and state-of-the-art technology. 

The rebirth of the Sunset Limited is more than a restoration; it’s a revival of memory, artistry, and innovation. At the heart of this ambitious project are three visionaries: Gloria Franz, Museum Board Trustee and dedicated community volunteer; Patricia Lockwood, Founder and Principal Designer of Design Vision Studio; and Gabriel Rivera, Market Leader for Palm Desert at AudioVisions. Together, they are demonstrating how history can be experienced as a living, breathing narrative where light, sound, and design come together to transport the imagination. 

The team researching local restaurant 'la fe Wine Bar.'

(from left to right) Gloria Franz, Gabriel Rivera, Patricia Lockwood, Sarah Romero.

Reimagining a Piece of History 

For Gloria Franz, this project began as a spark of curiosity and love for local heritage. A longtime trustee of the Coachella Valley History Museum, Franz has spent years helping preserve the stories of the desert’s early settlers, agricultural pioneers, and railroad builders. When she first encountered the dormant rail car behind the museum’s main campus, she saw not an outdated relic, but a vessel for storytelling. 

“Most people don’t realize how deeply the railroad shaped Indio and the surrounding valley,” Franz explains. “Our entire community was built around it. The Southern Pacific Railroad brought jobs, opportunity, and people. It literally put Indio on the map. This project is about honoring that legacy and inviting people to rediscover it in a whole new way.” 

The train itself, originally a sleeper car built in 1951, carries echoes of a golden age of travel. With its heavy steel frame, narrow corridors, and carefully appointed compartments, it once represented the height of American comfort on the move. Now, under Franz’s leadership, that same car is being transformed into a cultural hub that bridges generations, an elegant, multi-purpose space that serves as part dining venue, part exhibit, and part educational destination. 

Inside, visitors will move through three distinct design environments, each inspired by a classic Southern Pacific rail experience: the Audubon, the Pride of Texas, and the French Quarter. Each section tells its own story, blending design, history, and imagination. Guests will journey through these spaces as if traveling through time with each carriage representing a different era and story in time.  

The 3 sections of the Indio train car: The Audubon, the Pride of Texas, the French Quarter. Also the kitchen.

The Designer’s Vision 

For Patricia Lockwood, the creative force behind the interiors, Sunset Limited is a design dream steeped in nostalgia and emotion. As the founder of Design Vision Studio, Lockwood is known for creating spaces that evoke memory, warmth, and connection. She approaches design as a form of storytelling, and this project offered her one of the richest stories yet. 

“It’s rare to work on something that holds this much soul,” she says. “Every surface, every texture, every color connects to a moment in time. We wanted to design an experience that feels nostalgic yet completely new. When you step aboard, it should feel like entering a memory, but one that’s alive and unfolding.” 

Lockwood’s design process began with historical research and countless hours of studying rail car plans from the 1940s and 50s. She visited train museums, pored over archival photos, and even collected vintage rail menus and postcards to understand the atmosphere of the era. Then came the challenge: how to reinterpret that romance of rail travel for a modern audience. 

The result is a space that marries authenticity with imagination. In the Audubon section, diners will find rich woods, brass fixtures, and soft lighting that nod to the sophistication of classic rail dining. The Pride of Texas car takes a more casual tone, inspired by mid-century diners and the spirit of Americana, complete with cozy upholstered booths and sleek, timeless lines. Finally, the French Quarter lounge bursts with playful energy, featuring a vibrant watermelon-pink palette, gold accents, and an artful sense of celebration. 

“It’s history reinterpreted through artistry and hospitality,” Lockwood explains. “We’re not trying to copy the past; we’re creating a dialogue with it. I want people to walk in and feel like the story of travel is still unfolding around them.” 

Sacramento, California research trip.

Technology as a Storytelling Partner 

Bringing that story to life in all its sensory dimensions is Gabriel Rivera, the Market Leader at AudioVisions’ Palm Desert showroom. Known in design circles as the “tech whisperer,” Rivera has built his reputation by turning technology into a creative medium. 

Working closely with Lockwood, Rivera is designing an invisible ecosystem of lighting, sound, and digital storytelling that will immerse guests in a multi-sensory experience. 

“Technology doesn’t replace the story, it enhances it,” Rivera says. “Our job is to make the space feel alive. When people walk through the train, they’ll hear the sounds of rail history, the click of wheels, the rush of wind, maybe even the hum of distant voices from another era. They’ll see the lighting shift to match the mood or theme of each section. Every sense will tell part of the story.” 

From interactive digital panels to ambient projection and hidden speakers, Rivera’s systems are designed to blend seamlessly into the architecture. Whether the train hosts a historical exhibit, a private dinner, or a themed event, the mood can be completely transformed at the touch of a button. 

Imagine stepping into the car for a “Ride to the North Pole” holiday event, soft snowflake projections glimmering across the walls, warm light spilling over vintage holiday décor, the sound of carolers in the distance. Or picture an intimate wine evening in the French Quarter lounge, flickering candlelight, jazz melodies, and a gentle Parisian glow. Rivera’s integration makes it all possible. 

“The technology is there to serve emotion,” he adds. “That’s what makes this collaboration special; we’re not building a museum piece. We’re creating a living experience that evolves with every visitor.” 

Sacramento, California research trip. (from left to right) Gloria Franz, Patricia Lockwood.

A Community-Driven Journey 

While the creative team provides vision, the spirit of the project is deeply rooted in the Coachella Valley community. The Sunset Limited rail car is a symbol of collective pride and collaboration. 

Under Franz’s guidance, the museum has positioned the project as an educational tool and a cultural attraction. Once complete, the train will host school field trips, history tours, public exhibits, and community events designed to inspire local youth and preserve the stories of earlier generations. 

“Education is at the heart of everything we do,” Franz notes. “We want our children and grandchildren to know where they come from, to understand how rail built this valley. If we can make that learning experience fun, immersive, and emotional, we’re ensuring that history lives on.” 

The project is currently entering its next major phase: fundraising and development, with 2026 set as a milestone year for completion. Plans include community sponsorships, local business partnerships, and donor recognition opportunities that will help fund the restoration and installation of advanced technologies. 

Sacramento, California research trip. (from left to right) Gloria Franz, Patricia Lockwood.

A Shared Vision 

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Sunset Limited project is the chemistry between its leaders. Franz, Lockwood, and Rivera represent three distinct disciplines: history, design, and technology, but share one common goal, to create something timeless for the Coachella Valley. 

“Working with Gloria and Gabriel has been an amazing experience,” Lockwood says. “We all see this as more than a project. It’s a passion. Gloria brings the heart and purpose, Gabriel brings the innovation, and I bring the visual storytelling. Together, we’re creating something that’s both rooted in history and open to endless creative possibilities.” 

Rivera echoes the sentiment. “It’s rare to find a collaboration where everyone is equally invested in the emotional outcome,” he says. “This isn’t just about the train, it’s about what the train represents: connection, movement, progress, and memory. We all feel that.” 

AudioVisions, Palm Desert office, presentation. (from left to right) Patricia Lockwood, Gabriel Rivera.

Looking Toward 2026 and Beyond 

By 2026, when the fundraising goal is reached and the restoration complete, the Sunset Limited rail car will stand as one of the Coachella Valley History Museum’s signature experiences, a dynamic venue for cultural programming and private events that brings visitors from across the region. 

The team envisions seasonal themes, rotating exhibits, and collaborations with local artists and historians. Plans also include community nights, film screenings, and live performances that will transform the rail car into a multi-purpose stage for storytelling. 

“There’s nothing else like it in the desert,” Franz says. “It’s going to be something people talk about, something that brings them back to Indio again and again.” 

Preserving the Past, Illuminating the Future 

At its core, the Sunset Limited project is about more than rails and rivets; it’s about rekindling imagination. It’s about showing that history doesn’t have to sit behind glass cases; it can move, sing, and light up with possibility. 

For Gloria Franz, it’s a legacy project that connects generations. For Patricia Lockwood, it’s a chance to express history through the language of design. For Gabriel Rivera, it’s proof that technology, when used artfully, can become a storyteller in its own right. 

Together, they’ve turned a forgotten sleeper car into a symbol of the Coachella Valley’s enduring spirit. One that honors the past while lighting the way for the future. 

As Franz puts it, “We’re not just restoring a train. We’re restoring wonder. And when people step aboard, they’ll feel that sense of adventure that built this valley. That’s what this is all about.” 

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