The Joshua Tree Mountain Vista Retreat is located in the heart of Joshua Tree, convenient to town and on the way to the National Park entrance. We had an amazing stay here. This contemporary, mid-century styled house is impeccably maintained and is outfitted with most everything you could possibly need and then some for short-term or longer stays. The house feels spacious and airy with vaulted ceilings, large windows throughout, and an open concept floor plan. The detached studio was great to accommodate extra guests and was also stylish and well appointed. We made an outdoor fire and gazed at the starry night sky. Our host, Thomas, was always available to answer questions and made sure that we had everything we needed and were very comfortable our entire stay. We hope to return soon. Thank you, Thomas!
Sabrina
Seattle, Washington
December, 2012
We had a wonderful stay at Thomas' house. It is a beautifully decorated, comfortable, and clean home. Clearly Thomas has taken care to make the space lovely. The outdoor areas are also really great. Interesting things to see everywhere! This is a special place, not to be missed if you are passing through Joshua Tree. As a host, Thomas is communicative and easy going. I hope to stay here again!
Toni
Manchester, Michigan
November, 2012
The house is big and beautiful with an amazing view! It's centrally located and in walking distance to many shops and restaurants. The house is perfect for two couples and a few kids. Thomas is super accommodating and easy to get ahold of.
Kerry
Long Beach, California
November, 2012
Awesome 1st airbnb experience. It was a pleasure to deal with Thomas. He is professional, courteous, and very responsive. This stunning home is well equipped all around, but special recognition for the kitchen setup. Would definitely stay again, you should too!
David
Long Beach, California
November, 2012
"AMAZING & AWESOME beyond any expectations! thomas is an outstanding and wonderful host. he has exquisite taste and his beautiful home was a total gem to stay in. EVERYTHING is perfect & cohesively hi-end designed from the furniture, bedding, towels, & a fully equipped kitchen (we were a gourmet cooking crowd and we found everything we needed in that kitchen). the energy of the house is cozy & inviting, we slept well and wish our stay was longer. waking up and seeing a beautiful morning view from the living room is magical. i will definitely return to the property. the location could not have been more conveniently close to the park and to ""town"". thomas was very respectful to our privacy, but was available for any questions or help that we may needed. cheers!"
Sami
Los Angeles, California
November, 2012
Went for a birthday and had an amazing time. The place is really cool and in a good area near cute shops etc. Thomas was very helpful and responsive and would definitely stay again. Tons of boardgames to play as well.
Bradley
Los Angeles, California
October, 2012
Had a great weekend in Joshua Tree with my girlfriend. Well, she started out as my girlfriend, and ended up my fiance by the end of the trip. The house was fantastic. Watched the sun come up together and go down. The view from the patio is terrific. The house was perfect, and Thomas was helpful and accomodating. The location is perfect. It's a straight shot right into Joshua Tree National Park. We definitely plan to go back and we hope to stay at the Moutain Vista Retreat again if Thomas will have us. John O.
John
Los Angeles, California
October, 2012
At the Mountain Vista Retreat, every expectation was exceeded. Every need was met, and then some! The house itself is spacious and warm, and the grounds are nothing less than magical. Just ask my nephews. They will tell you all about the coyotes they talked to while looking for gold! ;-) My family stayed here and everyone from my father to my 5 year old nephew was impressed with the thoughtfulness of this place. We will be back very soon!
Lauren
Los Angeles, California
October, 2012
The purpose of our weekend in Joshua Tree was to see the Draconids meteor shower. There were ten of us. We did do that, however the experience of just sharing such a cool space with my lovely friends outdid the shooting stars. We made breakfast, grilled outside, took in the view of the surrounding mountains with a cup of coffee in hand. It was such a great weekend. I have never been more relaxed in my life. The best part is the location. It's minutes away from the Park Visitor Center, a lot of great restaurants and Pioneertown. In fact, that Saturday we found out about a Hives concert and just packed everybody up in two cars and headed out there! The next day, we went hiking, cooked dinner and looked at shooting stars. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. The space just made it all the more better. I highly recommend staying here. Thomas' home is thoughtfully curated with plenty of room for people to sleep and hang out. Every provision you could think of was provided. I loved every second of my stay.
Anna
Los Angeles, California
October, 2012
We had an amazing stay at Joshua Tree Mountain Vista - everything about it was perfect! The house is very roomy, incredibly clean, well-stocked with everything we needed and so wonderfully decorated. The location couldn't be more perfect - minutes from Joshua Tree National Park and also extremely close to restaurants and the National Park Visitor's Center. Thomas was so helpful in getting us into the house a day early (to escape the heat from Death Valley National Park) and also giving us restaurant advice. I do lots of research anytime I stay anywhere and let me save you the time - this place is perfect!
Barb
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
September, 2012
My family came out to the desert for a wedding. It was a great place to stay and to host a brunch for a larger group. Everyone raved about the house. And Thomas was very very helpful. I couldn't recommend it more highly.
Sally
St Martinville, Louisiana
September, 2012
The Joshua Tree Mountain Vista Retreat was incredible. Thomas has created a very beautiful, relaxing, space. The house was completely stocked with everything we could possibly need. So close to town, and close to the Joshua Tree National Park as well! Within 20 minutes of arriving we saw a road runner,humming birds, bunnies, doves, and a coyote. Pretty cool. Most comfortable place in the house was the day bed in the big room. We enjoyed the selection of music CDs, and had fun with board games on our last night's stay. We are definitely coming back here and I highly recommend this place if you want to visit Joshua Tree.
Melissa
Escondido, California
September, 2012
My girlfriends and I came to stay for the weekend and the house exceeded our expectations. Beautiful design and very comfortable it had everything we needed and beyond! Thank you Thomas, we will be back next year!
Polina
San Diego, California
September, 2012
I had a great stay at Thomas' lovely Joshua Tree home. The house is super cute, airy, clean, and is even better in person! My friends & I LOVED the vintage furniture, and Thomas has great art & vintage collectables artfully displayed throughout the house. There were really nice touches like an iPod dock, fast wireless, a fully stocked kitchen (with really cool vintage mugs!), great artwork, and really comfortable beds. Thomas has clearly put a lot of thoughtfulness into the decorating & maintaining the house. And I really can't say enough about the great decor & vintage furniture! I was in heaven. I hadn't spent much time in that exact area of Joshua Tree, but between the house guide book & Thomas' helpful website, we were able to easily navigate a great weekend. The house is in a great location: it's really close to the park, which made hiking really easy & accessible. However, we were also able to walk down the street to a local bar & restaurants & shops. The location really is the best of both worlds (rural/quiet meets civilization). We fit 5 women very, very comfortably in the main house (2 in each bedroom, and 1 on the daybed). Having 2 very nice, new bathrooms was GREAT & allowed us to get ready quickly....which is never easy with 5 ladies. ;-) The kitchen was tidy, very well-organized, and full of useful items (I was so happy to see a french press, since I'd left mine at home!). And I love that Thomas keeps a compost bin for kitchen scraps. It was a hot weekend in August, but with the A/C the house was nice and cool...and we enjoyed sitting outside on the porch in the evenings. We were very comfortable, despite the August heat. I would come back to this house again in a second. We had a spectacular trip, we all loved the house, and Thomas was super friendly & helpful. I'll definitely be back!
Katie
Los Angeles, California
August, 2012
This review deserves more than 5 stars. A group of us spent this past weekend here and it will undoubtedly be a trip to remember. I've stayed at a few other places in Joshua Tree i found via airbnb and this place surpassed my expectations tenfold. Our friends and I were already impressed from the pictures but the actual place itself is simply perfect. We did a ton of cooking as the kitchen is fully equipped with any kitchen appliance you could think of! Besides the comfort, the amazing decor and furniture added to the great overall experience we had. Thanks a mil Thomas! We will DEFINITELY be coming back. This home is an absolute gem.
Helen
Los Angeles, California
August, 2012
We had a terrific stay. It became a joke that Thomas somehow foresaw everything that we needed (thermos, shampoo, light for the grill, a particular spice, massive salad bowl) and there it was exactly when and where we needed it. The flow of the place was perfect, and we all had a wonderful time.
Ashley
Boston, Massachusetts
August, 2012
I hoped to spend a memorable weekend out in the desert with some of my friends--we ended up getting an unforgettable experience. The house is stocked with everything one needs and the decor is beautiful. The house is located near a canyon with some great rock formations, making for a cool walk nearby. Overall we had a great time, and I will definitely be coming back.
Sean
Los Angeles, California
July, 2012
"A great little house in the desert! I just got back from a long weekend of hiking in Joshua Tree national park with my brother and cousin (a ""guys trip""). This house was perfect for our needs: two bedrooms and a cot, large living room, a large, well equipped kitchen, a grill, a washer-dryer and two bathrooms. Rent it!"
Ben
Charlottesville, Virginia
July, 2012
Thomas was an absolutely wonderful host and his home in Joshua Tree was a wonderful retreat after exploring the park and area all day in the heat. The pictures, as great as they are, don't do this home justice. It was clean, had all amenities and appliances you could want, the grill was excellent and Thomas was great about getting back to me immediately with any questions I had. Highly recommend!
Blair
Santa Monica, California
June, 2012
This place was great. Had a family reunion there for the weekend. We had 7 adults there most of the time (only 5 slept there). There was plenty of room for everyone to spend time together and also get some alone time. The place was beautifully decorated, everyone enjoyed all of the art around the house. I would absolutely recommend staying here.
Katie
Alameda, California
June, 2012
We recently held our company's marketing retreat in Joshua Tree and decided to book Thomas' place. I couldn't have been more happier with our decision. The place was fantastic! We absolutely loved the vibe of the place, which was exactly what we were looking for. The mix of vintage furniture and local art was eclectic and nicely put together. It was a total of five of us so we decided to book the additional space Thomas offers in order to ensure each one of us had a bed, which worked out perfectly. The additional space even had its own bathroom! Thomas was a great host as well and greeted us when we arrived to make sure we didn't have any questions. Thank you so much for everything, Thomas! I'll be recommending your place to friends and I hope to be out there again very very soon! Cheers!
German
Los Angeles, California
June, 2012
This place is a total gem in the desert. Thomas has put a lot of thought and care in setting up the house for guests - he's thought of everything. From the well equipped kitchen (pots, pans, coffee machine AND press AND grinder, toaster oven, microwave, citrus press etc etc - all clean and in great condition), to the bedding and towels, to the ipod speaker dock and cozy couches, to the out-door grill and super modern laundry machines, you never want for anything while you're there. We had a quiet, lovely weekend with friends, enjoying sunsets on the front porch and walks down to the main drag in town (say Hi to Jenny at the health food store!). We are planning our next trip already!
Lauren
Los Angeles, California
June, 2012
We stayed at Thomas's wonderful house, Mountain Vista, for a month. The house is well appointed with everything we needed, has a great view of the desert and is close enough to town to walk down the hill in ten minutes. As you can see in the photos, it is also nicely decorated in a modern eclectic style with many interesting art pieces throughout. Thomas is a generous and welcoming host. He had all kinds of good and current information about the park and the local art scene available. I would highly recommend this house for anyone staying in Joshua Tree.
Doug
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
May, 2012
Lovely pristine place, Our guests rested well, and enjoyed the views from the windows. Thank you for your kindness and attentive communication, Thomas : D Always love, light and laughter; Leticia & Robert Huber : ) : )
Leticia
Port Townsend, Washington
May, 2012
Thomas' home was even more beautiful in person and very spacious. With the additional detached studio unit, it was perfect for three families (3 toddlers, 2 infants, and 6 adults). The descriptions are very accurate -- the home is perfectly situated near Joshua Tree Park as well as to the town so we were able to access everything we needed. We were able to meet Thomas in person when we checked in. He was is very easy to communicate with and was flexible with the check-in time (four hours early). Would definitely rent this home again when we go back to Joshua Tree.
Chau
Glendale, California
April, 2012
This place was amazing! It was the perfect desert getaway with an eclectic sense of style and art. We felt so at home and all the amenities we're readily available for us. Thank you so much Tom!
Luan
Milpitas, California
April, 2012
"I would leave more stars if I could! My group of 5 assistants and I were working on a project for Coachella and I rented Thomas's desert retreat as a mid-week get-a-way. The location was perfect for us. We would stroll down to ""downtown"" JT for breakfast and thrift shopping and then check out the park or one of Thomas's spot-on suggestions. The house itself is lovely, quiet, and immaculately clean while still feeling warm and inviting.Thomas is genuine host and made me and my rag-tag bunch feel welcomed. The saddest thing was having to leave. I highly recommend spending some time at Mountain Vista."
Susan
Seattle, Washington
April, 2012
A wonderful expansive house with beautiful views and real serenity. The place is as described, and is wonderfully equipped for cooking and relaxing. We enjoyed all the color and style of decor! Thank you!
Sally
San Diego, California
April, 2012
We loved our stay in this beautiful house!
Brooke
New York, New York
April, 2012
Thomas has a beautiful house, very big, very comfortable and with great interior design. It’s a very short drive to Joshua Tree NP. Thomas is friendly and welcoming.
Russ
London, England
April, 2012
Incredible place to stay!!! House was very comfortable and fully equipped for living. Thomas was a warm and welcoming host who was always available to assist you if you had questions. WE especially liked the distinctive touches of art work around the house. IT WAS A GREAT PLACE FOR OUR FAMILY REUNION.(san franciso, brooklyn, and yale all together)
Walter
New York, New York
March, 2012
What a lovely house with beautiful views and so close to Joshua Tree park. Thomas was always so kind and available to answer questions. Thank you. We really enjoyed our stay.
Kira
Seattle, Washington
March, 2012
My boyfriend and I spent a week at Thomas's house in Joshua Tree and it was quite perfect. The house has a great location-close to the main strip (about a seven minute walk) and close to the park (ten minute drive). There is also an amazing mountain valley and boulders to scramble up a few minutes walk away. The house itself was incredible: spacious, bright, super clean and decorated perfectly. The kitchen is large and easy to cook in. We loved every detail of the house. Thomas makes the whole process enjoyable. We didn't meet him but he is very friendly. He is easy to communicate with and quick to respond to any questions. We were thrilled to get to stay here. It will be hard to top this.
Marlene
San Francisco, California
March, 2012
"We loved our time at the ""Mountain Vista""!! The photos and descriptions are very accurate - the house was simply beautiful and well-appointed. More than enough room for the 2 of us, but was spacious enough for a family of 4+ or small group. We had everything we needed to make quick meals at the house - but would highly recommend heading into town to visit some of the local stops. The location is perfect for anyone wanting to explore Joshua Tree and a quick 45min drive into the Palm Springs area, if you are looking to explore a little more. Thanks! Juli and Rick"
Juli
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March, 2012
We as an Estonian/German family of five (the kids are 2x10 y and 13 y) had a wonderful time in Thomas´ house - it felt as at home. Everything which we usually need for living was available, the atmosphare was great and the house simply looks so good and it feels wonderful to be there. Thomas has a good taste and is easy to deal with! The kitchen has a super selection of tools - due to the big family we of course try to cook all meals by ourselves (good supermarkets in next two small towns). There is also a good possibility to wash clothes (another very important issue for a family with kids). The area is interesting and beautiful. The entrance of the park is near and the small town of Joshua Tree can be reached by foot. We were there in March and the weather was not too hot - good to have some warmer clothes with you as the evenings can get cold. However the house has a heating and the temperature in the house is just fine. This place is highly recommended!
Regina
Hamburg, Germany
March, 2012
My stay at Mountain Vista - A Desert Retreat was absolutely perfect. Every detail is amazing, from the beautiful architecture and surroundings to the awesome old Poloroid camera collections on display. I work at Airbnb, so I have stayed at a number of places at this point and I am sure this one will always stand out in my mind as one of the most spectacular. I took some friends here who were new to Airbnb, and their jaws dropped when they saw this place. I'm so glad to have been able to introduce them to Airbnb at such a wonderful location. :) The house is in a great spot for going to Joshua Tree National Park, and it's convenient to nearby cafes and restaurants. Everything was sparkling clean. While I didn't meet Thomas in person, he was a fantastic host. My one piece of advice - don't get lost in the desert! We lost our trail and spent about five hours wandering around trying to get back. It gets cold and dark fast out there. Tell someone where you're going and bring lots of food and water. Seems obvious in retrospect but I'm a city girl. :) I would recommend 100% staying here to anyone, even the most discerning guest. It was absolutely worth the drive down from San Francisco and is truly a special place.
Claudia
San Francisco, California
February, 2012
This was a perfect place to unwind! Joshua Tree Nat'l Park was amazing. This beautiful home was just minutes from the entrance. Thomas was incredibly thoughtful and accommodating. We had the house to ourselves. Very hip, spacious..each bedroom had a bath..kitchen tricked out...great views, sooo quiet, woodpeckers in the front yard... Thomas was great! I would highly recommend this listing and would certainly stay there again.
Sandy
San Francisco, California
February, 2012
This house was a delight to stay in. Thomas has impeccable taste in mid-century and more contemporary furnishings. The house was very put-together without feeling like you needed to put on surgical scrubs every time you entered it. It has a very functional, well stocked kitchen and great, furniture for lounging around on after a long day in the sun at J. Tree. The location is very nice - close enough to town that you can zip down for a pizza in less than 2 minutes if you don't feel like cooking.
Nick
Seattle, Washington
February, 2012
We really enjoyed the stay at this place. We negotiated some things for reservation and the way check in/out, his response was very quick and kind. The house is well-decorated with cool stuff and big enough, clean and comfortable to our family(five of us). We definitely wanna come back here!
Masayuki
San Francisco, California
February, 2012
Thomas was so helpful in making a girls weekend in J Tree fabulous! Thank you so much Thomas! We look forward to coming back.
Heather
Los Angeles, California
February, 2012
Loved the house. Tons of great art, funky furniture, great sunrise views, and nice amenities. With a small baby we especially appreciated the nice washer and dryer. Perfect jumping-off point to visit the national park, only a short drive away. Never got to meet thomas but he was really responsive via email and text.
Greg
California
February, 2012
Thomas's house was amazing! We all slept comfortably and the house was stocked with everything you could need. We easily cooked each night and made coffee in the AM. The furnishings were top notch and it is really located in an awesome spot! Near the park entrance. We all had a blast and even feed Roscoe the roadrunner!
Hershel
Los Angeles, California
January, 2012
We had a small family reunion at Mountain Vista in January. The home is beautiful! A lot of thought and love went into the decorating. The bedrooms were comfortable, the kitchen had everything we needed to prepare our own meals. The view from the large living room window facing west was wonderful. We loved hiking in nearby Joshua Tree national park and we spent one day looking at the mid-century modern architecture in Palm Springs. We also enjoyed the menagerie of wildlife around the house: grouse, rabbits and Roscoe! We had a great week. Thomas was very helpful. We highly recommend it and hope to come back again.
Landon
Woodstock, Illinois
January, 2012
Thomas's Mountain Vista retreat was an absolutely stunning. The photos do not do justice the pristine, thoughtful and loving care that has gone into this house - from the top notch kitchen and bathroom appliances, to the outstanding mid-century modern Norwegian decor and panoramic views of the surrounding Joshua Tree park. Situated blocks from town and the park entrance, the location is ideal. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
Lisa
New York, New York
January, 2012
Thomas provides a lovely house with all of the amenities. We were actually able to host a dinner party for 8! The house is beautifully restored, very clean, and decorated with style. Incredibly easy access to Joshua Tree National Park, a tame visiting roadrunner, and very comfy beds all made the experience complete.
Virginia
Toronto, Ontario
January, 2012
The house was immaculate - a great location too! (about a 2 minute walk from the visitors center/café/bars, etc… & 5 minute drive to the main entrance to Joshua Tree). Thomas was a great host, very helpful in planning our last-minute trip to the area. The house included all amenities that made staying in and bbq/cooking very easy. Interior looked amazing, great selection of mid-century furniture made us feel right at home! Thanks again.
Brett & Julia
Los Angeles, California
January, 2012
What a joy! we had a perfect time with our new baby. This home is beautiful and comfortable. Thomas really put it together with style. We were very cozy AND inspired. The kitchen is very well equipped. The house is walking distance from everything you need.. a few great restaurants, healthy eats and nice diner, health shop. Farmer's Market on the week end... thrift stores and vintage clothes shop... yoga...and of course the awesome Park in the other direction. The town is far more quaint than any surrounding towns .. there are no fast food chains or large marts.. residents are keeping Joshua Tree pure. Lovely. We were sad to leave. Thomas was a great help, providing us w/ baby car seat. We couldn't have wished for better. The sun.. the air, the silence, the Horizon... the stars.. wow.. We will return for sure.
Sveva
New York, New York
November, 2011
what a beautiful home! we prepared our thanksgiving dinner in the awesome and well-equipped kitchen and had fun perusing all the mid-century furniture. after a day of climbing/bouldering in the cold, it was great to come back to such a lovely and relaxing atmosphere!
Andrea
San Diego, California
November, 2011
The house was great. Very clean and quiet. Excellent location near park and cafes. Much better option than local motels-for sure.
Jonathan
Bolinas, California
November, 2011
Loved the place, I don't think the pictures really do it justice, it's very roomy, clean and well-decorated. Located a very short drive from Joshua Tree National Park and also close to restaurants and markets if you need it. I'd strongly recommend this place to anyone who's thinking about it - we were planning to camp in the park initially, but with the rain and the cabin being so nice we're really glad we stayed at the cabin!
Ernest
Los Angeles, California
November, 2011
We loved the retro decor and the vistas. The kitchen was well stocked with useful items and the overall feel was very hospitable and comfortable. Beds were comfy too!
Donna
Shelburne,Vermont
November, 2011
The house was amazing - great views, awesome location and beautiful decor. Thomas was easy to communicate with and went through a lot of effort to make our stay comfortable as possible. Thank you!
Joanne
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
November, 2011
Tracy
Los Angeles, California
October, 2011
Thomas was a great host and his house is beautiful. Perfect place for a quiet retreat. And The Joshua Tree national park was a great experience. Would love to come back!
Tobias
Copenhagen, Denmark
October, 2011
We had an incredible time at this beautiful Joshua Tree house. I feel like the photos don't even do it justice. We had three people, but it could have comfortably fit a couple more. The kitchen was fully stocked with all kinds of cookware, which was perfect for preparing meals to enjoy in the house and on the front patio. Thomas was easy to communicate and organize with and everything was in perfect order when we arrived. We could barely bring ourselves to leave and will definitely be coming back!
Sarah
Los Angeles, California
October, 2011
Thomas has a gorgeous, spacious retreat perfectly situated in Joshua Tree. Close enough to walk to the cafes on the main highway, and within a short drive of the park. His place is clean, with a great kitchen to do cooking. There are so many details about this place. As a designer, I really appreciated staying there!
Katherine
Los Angeles, California
September, 2011
Just returned from a fabulous weekend at Mountain Vista Desert Retreat! Thomas has meticulously remodeled this home with a combination of classic French 50's furniture pieces and streamlined modernism. His artist's eye is clearly evident in the photos and paintings around the home, as well as the overall design, including fixtures, paint colors, furniture, and whimsical lights and curios. Convenience and amenities abound as well. The home and its magnificent desert views would be a great place to find inspiration for your next artistic endeavor (or home improvement project)! Very convenient location to explore all of Joshua Tree, although all I wanted to do was just enjoy the beautiful home and read a book! Cheers Thomas!
Jerome
Los Angeles, California
May, 2011
