The first half of the 2020s was meant to be a fruitful and progressive time for the renowned Rancho Mirage Betty Ford Center treatment facility.
Back in 2021, the center was ready to embark on a four-year, $30 million project — the most significant expansion since it was established in 1982 — which would have increased its campus footprint and the number of beds available to patients. Construction of new buildings was scheduled for completion in 2025.
Five years later, however, not much has changed on campus. The center celebrated the opening of its new entrance in June 2022, but no new construction has taken place since then.
So what happened? Heidi Wallace, vice president of recovery services, told The Desert Sun that costs began to skyrocket as the project was set to move into the next phase of construction, which led to the “difficult” decision to halt work. During that multi-year pause, she said staff discussed the best course of action to reduce costs while still making modifications.
As a result, a new $30 million construction plan has emerged, which is less ambitious than the earlier vision but will include building a new residential facility and dining hall. Existing residential buildings will also get upgrades. A groundbreaking is set for July, with additional details emerging in September.
What is the Betty Ford Center?
The Betty Ford Center, located on a portion of the Eisenhower Health campus but not affiliated with the hospital, is a private, nonprofit drug and alcohol treatment center that provides in- and out-patient treatment as well as rehabilitation programs and virtual care. It was founded in 1982 by former first lady Betty Ford following her own struggles with addiction.
The center operates under the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, which is the nation’s leading nonprofit treatment provider with sites across the U.S., according to its website.
Center faced challenges with construction costs
Wallace said the Rancho Mirage center was able to complete part of its earlier construction plan, which included a new entrance and landscaping on the property. With the new entrance, the Betty Ford Center received a new address, 39-407 Vista Del Sol in Rancho Mirage, which honors Ford’s sobriety date of April 7, 1978.
But as staff started preparing for the next phases, which would have consisted of bulldozing four existing residential buildings and constructing two-story residential pavilions, construction costs were nearly doubling.
“We’re a nonprofit. We can’t double our costs in construction,” Wallace said.
In November 2023, the center decided to pause construction, which was a hard decision to make, she said, due to all the time and effort that was put in already. But, ultimately, she said it was “the responsible thing to do.”
With that decision came several years of discussing modifications that could reduce costs. At the same time, Wallace said there were many conversations about the center’s future and how to best serve patients. In the post-COVID-19 years, in particular, she noted an increase in people seeking resources for mental health struggles, which is often a co-occurring condition among patients with substance abuse disorders.
Conversations later revolved around creating environments that feel safe for those with highly acute mental health conditions. One way, Wallace said, is by having badge access to rooms, so that patients and roommates can go into their spaces whenever necessary, as well as staff. Other discussions have included use of technology to monitor patients who may need more care compared to others. More details are expected to come later.
What comes next
The Betty Ford Center plans to break ground on the next phase of construction within the next month. It will also host an unveiling event in September, during which renderings of the project will be shared with the community.
A new one-story residential facility will be built, bringing 60 new beds to campus. That will bring the total capacity number to 161 on campus (one additional single room will be available at some point in the future). Wallace said a space for art therapy will be available inside the new building, which will give patients “ways to express feelings outside of talk therapy.”
A new dining hall will also be built in order to accommodate for the growth in patient numbers. A 2027 completion is being eyed for both of the builds.
The current dining hall will be turned into a community center to host local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and other events, Wallace said.
Instead of demolishing the four existing residential halls, the Betty Ford Center will renovate them. Modifications won’t begin on the current halls until the new one is complete, licensed and operational. Upgrades will include new furniture in the bedrooms and bathroom renovations, among others. Wallace said completion is being eyed for the end of 2028 or the beginning of 2029.
While construction is taking place, the Betty Ford Center will remain operational.
Who was Betty Ford?
Ford, who was married to President Gerald Ford, served as first lady from 1974 to 1977.
The first lady was an advocate for women’s health, speaking openly about her breast cancer diagnosis in 1974 and later her addiction to prescription pain medication and alcohol, even though she was advised against it by others. By speaking about her conditions, she inspired women across the country to get screened for breast cancer and brought visibility to addiction, treatment and recovery.
Ford died in 2011 in Rancho Mirage at the age of 93, nearly five years after her husband’s death in 2006.
Today the Fords’ daughter, Susan Ford Bales, serves as a member of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Board of Trustees.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com, on X @ema_sasic and on Instagram @emasasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Betty Ford Center’s $30M expansion starting years late. What happened?
Reporting by Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
