In the community of 29 Palms, an authentic desert experience doesn’t necessarily mean roughing it. This truth is artfully illustrated by the historic 29 Palms Inn, a community staple that has been serving visitors to the area since opening in 1928. At just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Joshua Tree National Park HQ & Oasis Visitor Center, and directly bordering the magnificent Oasis of Mara, it offers an authentic way to connect with the Mojave Desert without leaving your comfort zone.
Since it first opened in 1928, the 29 Palms Inn has been operated by the same family, now in its fifth generation of service. It’s likely a key factor in that instantly familiar feeling that even first-time guests so frequently notice upon arrival. But a sense of refuge is innate to the property, owing to its bordering of a 9,000-year-old palm-strewn desert watering hole known as the Oasis of Mara.
Even prior to the establishment of the 29 Palms Inn, the Oasis of Mara was recognized as a local landmark. Today, it still provides refreshment to all manner of area wildlife, including avian species and an army of basking turtles, serving as a welcome refueling station punctuating the arid Mojave. The 29 Palms Inn takes up about 70 acres of land on the east bank of the oasis.
But the 29 Palms Inn has also left an indelible mark on the Oasis of Mara. Visitors will delight in a custom-created boat that once served as a sort of clubhouse for the children who grew up on the property. Guests will notice that it continues to float languidly in the cool shadows cast by legions of palms at the edge of the oasis.
Unique Accommodations
If you book your reservations at 29 Palms Inn early enough, you can choose from a variety of accommodations, all completely distinct from another. Options include:
- Adobe bungalows
- Cabins
- Guesthouses
Many of these date back to the 1920s and ‘30s, with lovely features including fireplaces, secluded backyards, and communal decks. The quarters are arranged in such a way that you’ll likely need to grab a map at check-in. From there, you can just follow the dirt road right up to the door of your reserved quarters.
As always, I stand by to offer any information/ideas/perspectives to you, your friends and your family as needed.
Photos credit: 29 Palms Inn Official Site and Christopher Michel
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