Sol to Soul named by Condé Nast: Coolest In Cali

Sol to Soul is a luminous sanctuary on 10-acres of mythic boulders in Pioneertown, one of the most historic, storied and desirable locations of the Mojave Desert. The enchantment begins the moment you turn off the pavement into the exclusive area of Gamma Gulch. You’ll drive 3-miles down our private dirt road, past fields of Joshua Trees and the geological phenomena of massive granite boulders that stack skyward in sculptural feats almost too extraordinary to believe.

Turning into the driveway there is an otherworldly sense of arrival, with our affectionately named Whale Rock rising up from the mystical theater of boulders surrounding Sol’s all-white structure to greet you.

Sol is high design in the wild desert, with every amenity for your heart, soul and human comfort. We welcome you to do as much or as little as you desire while here. There’s bbq and live music 15-minutes away at world-famous Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace; a sound bath at The Integratron – built by a UFO advocate; antiquing in Yucca; and custom guided hikes, rock-climbing lessons and even a night with your own personal astronomer in JTNP.

The other option is to arrive and never wander foot off the 10-acre property. Either way, you cannot help but leave differently than you arrived. Deserts have always been steeped in mysticism, the awakening of inward reflection, clarity, and transformation, the place the Phoenix comes to set itself on fire and the Alchemist to learn how to become the wind.

Our personal recommendation is that you stay up late counting stars, wake early for an unbelievable sunrise and grab a nap on the outdoor sofa later in the afternoon after a day of writing music, catching lizards, drinking margaritas at Red Dog, playing Scrabble, watching clouds, getting an in-home massage, reading the Great American Novel, reconnecting with your beloved, picnicking on the rocks or hiking. Before you doze off, grab the binoculars and have a peek at the family of hawks that lives in Whale Rock – or wait for them to take their afternoon flight over the house.

At sunset, you’ll definitely want to dip into the salt water hot tub, and then hop over to the firepit to dry off and start cocktail hour. With Pappy’s, Red Dog and La Copine (reviewed by the NYTimes as a “dining room run with joy and exuberance”) all within 20 minutes, we like to do dinner out at least one night (or as take away). And cook in the rest of the time.

At day’s end, we look for the moonrise over the eastern boulders. And, if it’s Milky Way season (March-September), the rarer delight of basking under that pale, luminous band of fire and light called the Milky Way. Like Joshua Tree National Park – a designated International Dark Sky Park – Sol is blessed with deeply dark nights. Many a night, the Milky Way appears right over the house, as if the cosmos has come to speak to you. And who’s to say it isn’t?

Inside of Sol to Soul, we have created an elegant and serene sanctuary, combining furniture by world-renowned designers like Christian Liagre with one-of-a-kind handmade Moroccan rugs and curated artwork and details by local artists.

All rooms, with the exception of the bathrooms, have floor-to-ceiling sliders with magical views of the sky and boulders, and decks to transition you from inside out into the wild. The bathrooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with views (and curtains for privacy).

The bedrooms feature king-sized beds with pure Dunlop Latex mattresses and pillow tops (all natural from trees, no chemicals or metal coils); organic cotton and linen bedding; floor-to-ceiling sliders so that you may sleep with a view of the moon and stars – or black-out curtains if you prefer.

Tucked into the shelter of a giant boulder, there is a deck with a top-of-the-line Hot Springs salt water hot tub, outdoor shower, cowboy tub and cozy seating area with some of the most amazing views at Sol to Soul.

There are sun loungers on the master bedroom deck.

On the deck off the kitchen/living room, there is an outdoor sofa, lounge chairs, and firepit in addition to a teak-dining table with seating for 6. There is another teak dining table inside, also with seating for six. These two tables could be combined to entertain larger parties.

The house is equipped with a state-of-the-art radiant heating and A/C system; Wifi; fire sprinkler system; smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

During your stay you may see lizards, cotton tail rabbits, jack rabbits, coyote, hawks, bob cats, crows by the hundreds, quail, a zillion birds I can’t name, and these adorable, mouse-like creatures that zip back and forth across the road all day long.

Whatever you are moved to do or not do, let go of or allow to come in while you are here, we wish you a beautiful, blessed, joyful, magical, transformative and memorable stay at Sol to Soul.