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Though just an hour’s drive from Palm Springs, the region around California’s Joshua Tree National Park feels like a totally different reality. Of course, that has a lot to do with its otherworldly terrain—perched thousands of feet above sea level where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, the landscape is both brutal and beautiful, offering endless vistas of boulder-strewn mountains, cactus-studded valleys, and wide-open skies.
Known to locals as the High Desert, the area...
This chic collection of 14 post-and-beam homes is nestled within the sprawling, 152-acre campus of the historic Joshua Tree Retreat Center—also known as the Institute of Metaphysics—offering an opportunity to experience the desert’s famed mid-century design as well as its mysticism. Recently renovated and completely architecturally restored, the Harold Zook-designed Bungalows were originally created in 1960 to house the site’s on-campus teachers, and still feature many of their original aesthetic charms—including wood exteriors, sun-bleached interiors, and intricate millwork. Guests also have complimentary access to the Retreat Center’s pool, hot tub, and cafe—as well as all classes, workshops and activities for an additional fee. And, if you prefer a larger dwelling off-campus, Homestead Modern also offers some of the most intriguing design-centric rental house options in the Joshua Tree area and beyond.
