Celebrating One Year of Terra Vieja
It's been one year since we launched Terra Vieja, our high-character luxury cabin in downtown Joshua Tree. Joshua Tree National Park saw a record breaking 3.2 million visitors, and a small portion of those visitors chose to call Terra Vieja home for their trip to the desert. After a year of 5-star reviews, we have a lot to be grateful for. We’re so happy our guests have loved Terra Vieja as much as we loved creating the space.
After a full year of renovations we were so excited to finally launch in February, 2023. At some point, we will put together a proper before and after post so we can share more of what the space looked like when we bought it. In the meantime, here are some highlights from our first year sharing the space with others!
By the numbers:
• 87 bookings (across Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and Direct Bookings)
• 75+ 5-star reviews on Airbnb
Favorite guest review:
✨ Exciting moments:
• Adding the Garden Spa
• Hosting our first elopement dinner
• Hosting a Fall photoshoot for website content
• Added an record player & vintage album wall
• Making Terra Vieja dog friendly!
Garden Spa
We've had a dream of adding an outdoor spa experience for guests - somewhere they can truly unwind and take in the beauty of the surrounding desert while caring for their mind, body, and spirit. After months of planning (and saving!) we were finally able to bring this project to fruition in September of 2023. The primary phases of the project included:
• Clearing and site prep
• Plumbing and electrical
• Building of the deck and walls
• Installation of hardware and fixtures (bath tub + faucet, shower head, shower hooks)
• Sauna installation - we purchased the Watoga Traditional Steam Sauna in Cedar from Almost Heaven and assembled it ourselves over an open weekend.
It took several months but we now have a beautiful garden oasis that is the perfect place for a morning soak in the bath, or to rinse off after a hike while absorbing the majestic desert views under a pink sky sunset. Our favorite part about this desert garden spa is that it is accessible year round. During the warmer months, guests can use the bath tub for a cold plunge or take a refreshing shower overlooking the desert. When it is cooler, the sauna warms our guests’ bones before indulging in a relaxing soak.
Our plan is to integrate a cowboy tub into the redwood deck this summer, to offer yet another way for guests to cool down during the heat of summer. Stay tuned!
Elopement Dinner
One of our preferred local vendors, Boho Bloom, set up a stunning tablescape for a couple who eloped in Joshua Tree National Park before celebrating with an intimate dinner in the backyard. We know how important venue selection is when planning an elopement and are always honored when guests choose to celebrate their most important milestones in one of our spaces! This intimate desert garden dinner was truly dreamy.
Fall Photoshoot
In November we hosted a photoshoot to secure content for the build out of our website. We invited Brandon Conklin in from LA and had an exciting day playing with our pups, snacking on seasonal charcuterie boards and snapping imagery that we felt represented the space. Much of it you see all across our website!
Record Player & Vintage Album Wall
After an inspiring trip to the Palm Springs Vintage Flea Market we had the wild idea to add a record player and vintage album wall at Terra Vieja. We spent the next few weeks picking out some of our favorite records from flea markets and local shops like The Hoodoo in Yucca Valley and White Vinyl Records in Twentynine Palms. Now guests can dance to all of our favorite tunes by Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, The Eagles, and more.
Dog Friendly!
We refreshed our furniture and mostly enclosed the back yard to make it the perfect place to host guests and their furry travel companions. Just because they have four legs doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a quality experience!
The less glamorous - Not all of our efforts in year one were glamorous. There were a lot of operational and maintenance tasks that were required to create a five-star experience for guests. We…
• Replaced a kitchen vent fan
• Replaced the kitchen faucet in both our kitchen and bathroom due to water pressure issues
• Kicked off a project to add Tesla solar (similar to the set up we have at Terra Nova)
• Continually edited and re-printed our Welcome Book as we added more amenities throughout the year
• Replaced the desk in the office corner for better compatibility with creative work
• Propagated current plants and added some new native flora into the mix, like our new favorite, desert sage! It does so well in our soil and adds a pop of brilliant purple
Wondering what's next for year two?
We hope to host another round of amazing guests seeking a desert adventure, self-care, and a special space to honor life’s milestones.
If you are interested in visiting at our restorative oasis in downtown Joshua Tree, you can book your stay at Terra Vieja here.
