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Experience the Mojave in Style at the Historic 29 Palms Inn


 

Featured image credit: 29 Palms Inn Official Site

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. 

A Standard 29 Palms Inn Welcome

 


 

Like a series of desert flowers blooming amidst the thorny cacti of the Mojave, the 29 Palms Inn greets travelers with pastel-painted facades of adobe, a welcoming respite from the harsh desert conditions. Pulling up to the arrangement of tiny sanctuaries introduces an unusual sensation at once novel and familiar. It’s the perfect platform for catching the explosive watercolor sunsets of the desert in a tranquil setting that prioritizes leisure; a comfort that isn’t normally associated with such an unforgiving climate. But it works beautifully. 

Along the Oasis of Mara

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. 

Photo credit: U.S. National Park Service

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. 

Passing Time at the 29 Palms Inn

Photo credit: Christopher Michel

While the 29 Palms Inn is largely meant to provide you with an escape from the beaten path, there’s still plenty to do onsite and around the area to pass your time. You can grab a bite to eat (including their comprehensive continental breakfast) at the hotel’s restaurant or even have food brought to you at the heated swimming pool. The cocktail bar keeps drinks and conversation flowing, soundtracked by nightly live music (often acoustic to maintain the relaxed atmosphere). If you’d rather explore your own creativity, the 29 Palms Inn even provides an onsite workshop at the hotel’s Creative Center.  

It even maintains its own vegetable and herb garden. The literal fruits (and vegetables) of their labors go directly into the meals they prepare daily at the hotel’s restaurant. It’s yet another way the establishment illustrates its commitment to the land, and its almost sacred devotion to the surprising bounty of the Mojave. 

Planning Your Visit

The 29 Palms Inn can be found off Highway 62 along National Park Drive at 73950 Inn Ave, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. If you’re wondering, pet-friendly rooms are available for an additional (though modest) nightly pet fee. If you’ve been trudging through the sweltering dunes of your life without reprieve, it might be worth taking a detour to a verified oasis. And if you’d like to do that in historical style, the 29 Palms Inn is a safe bet. 

 

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