About
Luxury Desert Getaway
Custom designed by artist John Henry Jones, El Ranchito’s Joshua Tree Container Retreat, Wellness Inn and Spa is unlike any other desert getaway.
The El Ranchito’s Joshua Tree Container Retreat has been designed to create a quiet and secluded, meditative, sensual and inspirational, one-of-a-kind retreat and wellness center. Three standalone units are combined to create one sui generis huge hacienda, along with the mansion on wheel and the land yacht. There are 4 queen beds, one king, three kitchens, three bathrooms with tons of outside lounging and sleeping spots. On the ranch there's a pool patio spa next to a lap pool, lounges and daybeds, a palapa with eight hammocks, two outdoor showers and a second spa in in a private cabana (a hot tub in a cabana, that locks from the inside, uses a vacant/occupied sign system, and has no sight lines in), all make El Ranchito de la Playa a fun, romantic and often inspiring sanctuary. We offer a top notch 4-burner chef's BBQs and fire pit to enjoy outdoor dining on the ranch. Upon availability we have a large, enclosed dog run, and a small horse corral.
Fruit trees, grape vines and succulents border the property, and a massive centerpiece Eucalyptus tree shades the raised sun/star deck. There is virtually no light pollution at El Rachito, and there are few places on earth that can rival its spectacular sunrises, sunsets, stargazing, meteor showers, and lunar views.
It's really important to us that you revel and recreate in our little corner of the Mojave, a place we dearly love. Our goal is to achieve an almost instant dropping of your heart rate as you first relax into a hammock, lounge, rocking chair, or jacuzzi, take in the oceanic desert that engulfs you and the trillions of stars above that shine down, the galaxial sky's awesomeness inevitably softening the heart.
From Artist Retreat to Container Resort!
Meet the Owner!
Custom designed by artist and musician John Henry Jones, El Ranchito’s Joshua Tree Container Retreat, Wellness Inn and Spa was a vision that came to life in the 2000’s (although the original property was purchased in the early 90’s from the proceeds of Mr. Jones’ 1991 #1 hit song for the British band: Asia — “Days Like These.”
An Artist’s Desert Escape
Artists and creators have long sought refuge, clarity, or simply an escape from reality during their visit to Joshua Tree. Join us at the Joshua Tree Retreat Wellness Inn and Spa where we have endless amounts of landscape and countless creative endeavors—yoga, hammocks, jacuzzi spa, lap pool, outdoor gym, outdoor recreational rentals, and more. Also, a guidebook of the best restaurants, hiking trails, and art installations. Book today so you can experience the magic of the desert.
History
In the 1960's a variety of celebrity notables discovered the unique area of Joshua Tree. Such as U2, Rolling Stones and Country Rock innovator Gram Parsons and British Folk singer Donavon sought out the wonders of Joshua Tree. Currently amongst others notable's International Jazz Diva Nancy Wilson makes the area her home along with British Rock legend Eric Burden of the Animals. Today there is a large cultural Arts renaissance going on in the Morongo Basin. The community is filled with artists, musicians, writers and theatre companies. The area is known for its songwriter singer movement. The Morongo Basin cultural Arts Council has been leading the way in unifying the visual Arts community and developing the Arts as an economic force. The High Desert Living Arts Centre is conducting grass roots community arts programs. A number of music festivals and an annual Artist Studio tour are attracting visitors from around the world. The area attracts 1.3 million visitors a year.
Human history in the Joshua Tree region stretches back well over 5,000 years. The first group known to inhabit the area was the Pinto Culture, followed by American Indians including the Serrano, the Chemehuevi, and the Cahuilla.
In the 1800s, cattlemen drove their cows into the area for the ample grass available at the time and built water impoundments for them. Miners dug tunnels through the earth looking for gold and made tracks across the desert with their trucks. Homesteaders began filing claims in the 1900s. They built cabins, dug wells, and planted crops.
Everyone who has lived in this desert has left an imprint on the landscape. Some individuals have left an especially big mark. Without the passion and commitment of Minerva Hoyt, for example, Joshua Tree might never have been set aside and protected. Elizabeth Campbell was a pioneering archeologist in the region.