The Hi-Desert desert communities surrounding Joshua Tree National Park are worlds apart in terms of style, attitude and overall vibes: in the Coachella Valley, visitors don Trina Turk kaftans while reclining on poolside loungers, while in Joshua Tree they strap on Merrell Moab boots while stretching their gams hiking famous trails like Arch Rock.
The Bungalows By Homestead Modern, a luxury desert getaway located on the same grounds as a historic spiritual wellness center (more on that later), feels like a sunny Palm Springs lodging that pined for stark scenery and a cowboy lifestyle and one day decided to up and haul off to Joshua Tree (while keeping its midcentury vibes and sun-dappled color scheme intact). In short, it seems to offer the best of both worlds.
Why stay at The Bungalows by Homestead Modern?
The Bungalows are a collection of 14 apartment-style units within three historic buildings designed in 1961 by architect Harold B. Zook. Not unlike the homes that are so distinctive to Palm Springs, each of the virtually identical buildings are likewise single-story with low-slung, low-pitch gable roofs, and each contain sliding patio doors designed to filter in copious amounts of sunlight.
My deluxe suite included a living area and shared a wall with another unit. During my stay it was shared by a couple who planned on spending their weekend staying put. Despite my protestations, I could hardly blame them—The Bungalows sit on a butte overlooking a field of Joshua Trees and a skyline punctuated by seasonally snowcapped mountains (a site for lambent sunsets).
What are the rooms like at The Bungalows by Homestead Modern?
The flooring inside each home is concrete and austere, but offset by lemony bursts of color in the drapery and Roy Lichtenstein pop art reprints that liven things right up. The living room in my suite boasted a hand-knotted Oushak floor rug, a large midcentury sofa in beige, a hexagonal side table, an egg-style ottoman upholstered in leather and a boucle lounger draped in a tasteful throw which, like a lot of the accessories artfully placed about my bungalow, was available for purchase via the app.
The bedroom, meanwhile, featured a king-sized Tuft & Needle mattress fitted with crisp, white linens by Parachute, an upholstered headboard and decorative throw. The room had two metal side tables, each with matching table lamps with tasteful ceramic bases and an elaborate reflected diamond area rug, and inside the closet hung two bathrobes by House of Hiatus. A hexagonal mirror hung above the bathroom sink, and the vanity area included Malin + Goetz bath products and a woven rattan tissue box. A minor flaw was my wish that the rain shower, tiled in yellow, had more powerful water pressure.
My suite contained three outdoor sitting areas: one with two loungers and a side table located under an overhang to protect sunbathers from harsh rays, a second off-kitchen patio with a dining table and chairs, and a third western-facing cranny that included a set of chairs and side table and is clearly intended for drinking up sublime sunsets.
What to eat at The Bungalows by Homestead Modern?
Every room features either a full kitchen or kitchenette. Mine boasted a stainless steel fridge, four-burner stovetop and oven, a toaster, tea kettle, stainless steel French press (with coffee grounds from Wonder Lake Coffee) and a pair of locally made coffee mugs by Yucca-based ceramicist ZZIEE. A compact dining area next to floor-to-ceiling windows included a marbletop tulip-style dining table and two chairs, plus globe pendant lighting which gave the light-filled nook a breezy, ‘50s-era diner feel.
The retreat center includes a mess hall-style cafeteria called Food For Thought Cafe that is a short walk from the Bungalows, and while the menu here is lacking in some serious flavor, the building itself is a stunner. It’s a Lloyd Wright-designed structure which features floor-to-ceiling windows, an oblique roof, rubble stone and brick facade and long low lines. Best to either cook your own meals or hit up nearby gems like the Rat Pack-era Copper Room, veggie-friendly Frontier Cafe, grab-and-go favorites The DEZ and the Big DEZ, or new kid on the block Mojave Gold.
What are the facilities like at The Bungalows by Homestead Modern?
Simultaneously peculiar and alluring, the Bungalow buildings are leased from the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, a more than 400 acre wellness campus and supposed energy vortex founded by Edwin Dingle and dedicated in 1941. It is home to the largest concentration of buildings designed by Lloyd Wright—son of beloved prairie-style architect Frank Lloyd Wright, but the Bungalow buildings stand in stark contrast to the retreat center structures which are remarkable, though by comparison lacking sheen and luster.
In addition to the aforementioned cafe, the campus also boasts a shared swimming pool and jacuzzi which is reachable via connected footpaths—oh, and Retreat Center events happen sporadically which means Bungalow guests could well have these facilities to themselves.
The grounds also include a walkable art garden that is currently home to numerous sculptures from artists like Keith Greco, Kim Stringfellow and Juan Thorp and several large-scale pieces from artist Harlan Emil hauled in from Burning Man. A labyrinthine, rock-constructed meditation space allows for moments of quiet tramping while a cordoned-off grove labeled “vortex” likewise encourages solitary respite.
What’s the service like at The Bungalows by Homestead Modern?
The Bungalows are largely self check-in, though a small building labeled Cypress Pavillion functions as a daytime office with on-site management. Upon booking, I received a text confirmation and a nudge to download their digital guest app for room information and area recommendations. On the day of my arrival I was sent a second missive alerting me as to which bungalow was mine as well as the access code and check-in time. Everything went super smoothly.
What’s the area like around The Bungalows by Homestead Modern?
Surrounding the Bungalow buildings are assorted steel benches where I sat and savored the sweeping views (think dreamy mountain silhouettes and foreground clusters of desert foliage such as cholla cacti with their inimitable neon glow, and, of course, Joshua Trees).
A hairpin bend near the third building featured a jutting summit with Adirondack chairs separated into pairs, plus another half dozen clustered around a diamond-shaped gas fire pit with glass window guards and several picnic tables. Shared facilities near my building included several four-burner, built-in gas grills, two pushed together steel picnic tables and seating that could easily accommodate 20 (clearly meant to encourage communal dining) and string lights that twinkled at dusk.
Why you should book a stay at The Bungalows by Homestead Modern
Joshua Tree National Park has become a megawatt tourist destination (in fact, it attracts upwards of 3 million people annually) yet so many visitors are Coachalla Valley daytrippers who burrow in upscale enclaves like Palm Springs and Indian Wells and deign to dirty their shoes in the park only for an afternoon. The Bungalows at Homestead Modern is the Hi-Desert hideaway with a serious wow factor that gives upscale travelers a reason to stick around for a couple of days.
DETAILS
Address: 59700 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Price: Starting at $329
Transport: Palm Springs International Airport is just under an hour’s drive from The Bungalows
Book now: via Booking.com
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