About this space
Peaceful and serene. The only sound is the breeze in the salt pine. No one around for miles…
The Cowboy Cabin is a 1950s homestead on 5 acres of pristine California desert. It's the perfect place to gaze up at a meteor shower and pick the constellations out of the clear night sky.
Soak up the afternoon sun then head inside to curl up on the super comfy bed and watch a movie. At dusk, be sure to head outside and watch the sun sink behind the mountains. Sunset is not to be missed.
The space
In the spring, everything is in bloom - the delicate wildflowers, the shrubs, the trees and the cacti. Perhaps you'll catch a glimpse of some of the area's wildlife: huge jackrabbits with tall ears, tiny fluffy bunnies, bats, doves, sparrows, roadrunners, quail, and coyotes off in the distance, howling in the darkness.
The Cowboy Cabin is 9 miles directly north of the town of Joshua Tree and one entrance to the Joshua Tree National Park for world-class hiking. We're just 7 miles from the Integratron. Please note: the last mile to the cabin is an unpaved packed dirt road. Just drive slowly, about 11 miles per hour and your car will handle it fine.
If being completely alone is of interest to you, then the Cowboy Cabin has you covered. The surrounding 100 acres are mostly undeveloped, very few cars travel through the area, and once the sun goes down, it's completely silent. Step outside in the still of the night and marvel at the Milky Way, hovering just overhead, visible to the naked eye and so close you feel like you could touch it.
Grab some firewood at one of the gas stations or grocery stores so you can make s'mores over the firepit while you gaze at the stars. We have two heaters to make the cabin super cozy in the colder months, one is an electric "wood stove" with dancing flames for a fireplace feel and the other is a small wall heater which warms up the space very quickly.
Please follow our directions to the Cowboy Cabin - as many dirt roads are very soft and cars can easily get stuck.
Check-in is any time after 3:00 pm, check out is 11:00 am. Check-in and out times can be flexible, so let us know of any special needs. Self check-in with a lockbox.
WiFi: We have one of the faster WiFi plans available: 2 megabit download / 768 kilobits upload (40X Dial-up) however the WiFi is transmitted via towers in the Landers area (not via cable) so stormy weather and even a windstorm can affect service. In the hot summer months, power outages can happen when the grid is overwhelmed.
All pets must be approved ahead of time. Please be sure to include a "pet" in your reservation details, that's how we charge the one time pet fee. We're only accepting guests with 1 to 2 dogs at the moment. (No cats). We charge a $20 pet fee for extra pet hair cleaning. Dogs should be on a leash when outside - owners are responsible for the safety of their pets. Please note: there are rattlesnakes, scorpions, centipedes, black widows and coyotes in the area. Rattlesnakes hibernate in the colder months, but please be aware that there are potential dangers. I know how much people love their pets.
Renovations of this property are still in process. The house has been thoroughly cleaned and is cleaned after each guest, but there are a few items that require more complicated repairs like replacing some Saltillo tiles and updating the shower. We appreciate your understanding!
Guest access
You have access to the whole house and all 5 acres.
The area directly around the house is fenced. There is a trail that heads north from our driveway deeper into the property. You can take a walk along the dirt roads in the area. Just be careful when you're off road - realize you're out in real wilderness. Wear boots when hiking - there are snakes, especially in the warm months.
Please be aware that the desert is fragile, and most plants take a long time to grow if they are disrupted. No vehicles or off-road vehicles are allowed anywhere on the property other than in the driveway. Remember all the open land is someone's private property and being on them can constitute trespassing.
Please be considerate of others - no disruptive activity which would affect the quiet enjoyment of the desert for our neighbors and wildlife. This includes, but is not limited to: shooting guns, fireworks, flying remote controlled aircraft (such as drones), bright outdoor lighting, loud music. Off-road vehicles can be driven on the dirt roads in the area, however, please keep moving so that the noise does not create an annoyance for the neighbors. Drones can be flown over the 20 acres directly around the cabin. Please let me know you plan to bring a drone and I'll send you a map of the uninhabited 20 acres around the cabin. Please note that the 29 Palms Marine Base is nearby so use caution when flying remote controlled aircraft.
Please keep quiet outdoors from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Any loud noise, like talking or music during this time must be taken indoors and please close up the house. Noise carries easily in the desert.
No fires outside when it is windy and no fires outside designated areas. Hot embers can be carried a long way. The area is very dry and a fire could threaten the whole area. Please be extra careful with fire even when it is not windy. There is a hose on the south side of the house.
Other things to note
We request that you bring slippers or flip-flops to wear indoors. There’s no way to keep all the dust and tiny pebbles out of the house, so wearing flip-flops will help keep your feet pain free and help keep the furniture clean.
You'll definitely want to wear shoes or flip-flops when you go outside - most of the vegetation is prickly, especially the cholla cactus, whose spines are blown around by the wind. There are ants and other critters, so watch your step. Just look down and make sure you're not standing on an ant hill.
The kitchen is fully stocked, just bring your own olive oil or butter, whatever you like to cook with. We have pots, pans, cooking utensils, knives, plates, utensils, glasses and mugs, as well as tupperware for leftovers.
The water is safe to drink and use for cooking/showering/etc. I cook with it, but personally, I prefer to drink bottled water.
We ask that you leave your perfumes and colognes at home. The sheets and towels are washed with hypoallergenic detergent and bleach. Sheets and pillowcases are super soft cotton jersey.
No smoking inside. No candles or incense please.
No illegal downloads. No big parties. No photoshoots or filming without prior authorization.
There are two exterior security cameras on site. One camera faces the driveway and the other camera faces the south side of the house toward the road. All windows have security bars and all doors have deadbolts as well as security screen doors.
Please note we are on a septic system, so only use septic safe paper products. (Septic safe toilet paper is provided.)
