Photo: © Margaret Austin Photography
Posada by the Joshua Tree House is a desert hideaway outside of Tucson that’s been at the top of many hotel connoisseurs’ bucket lists since it opened last fall. Here, five reasons why this design-centric rental house–meets–boutique hotel just might be the perfect spot for your first trip after stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.
1) There’s plenty of space
If you’ve been social distancing in a tiny studio apartment, you’ll be happy to know that this five-room inn is all about wide-open spaces. It sits about a half-hour drive from Tucson—with its incredible tacos, great bar scene, and funky shops—but you’d be forgiven for never leaving the property’s 38 acres of Sonoran Desert landscape. If you need even more room to roam, the inn is located a few minutes away from the western side of Saguaro National Park (the park is divided into two unconnected halves), which offers the five-mile Bajada Loop Road, 800-year-old Hohokam petroglyphs, and miles of hiking trails through wildlife-rich saguaro cactus forests.
2) The design is extremely soothing
Owners Sara and Rich Combs perfected this desert oasis model at their first property, Southern California’s Joshua Tree House, a two-bedroom 1949 hacienda near the western entrance of the namesake national park. They found the Tucson building abandoned and in a state of disrepair but fell in love with the framework, which included ceiling beams made from old telephone poles and saguaro ribs and more than a dozen beehive fireplaces. They’ve since spruced it up with a fresh palette of earth tones, retro Marshall speakers, gorgeous textiles and ceramics, abundant potted succulents, cow skulls, and crystals—all designed to make you feel serene (but also maybe a little bit jealous of their impeccable design savvy).
3) You’ll finally have an excuse to stop looking at your screen
Before you ask: Yes, there’s Wi-Fi. But you’re totally missing the point if you use it. Read a book on Georgia O’Keeffe in front of the sunken living room’s fireplace, watch for roadrunners from the boulder-lined pool, listen for howling coyotes while gazing up at the Milky Way from the rooftop deck, or maybe try to mimic the shape of a saguaro (arms up, one leg firmly rooted) in the yoga and meditation room.
4) It’s a perfect place to reconnect with your socially distanced relatives
We know you haven’t seen your family and friends in a while (Zoom calls don’t count!), and this is a great spot for a reunion. While each of the five rooms is available to rent individually on Airbnb, you can also email the owners at posada@thejoshuatreehouse.com to inquire about renting out the whole complex (prices upon request).
5) You don’t have to cook—if you don’t want to
The house comes equipped with a full shared kitchen and an outdoor charcoal grill, but at this point you’re probably sick of meal planning. Thankfully, mornings are covered, with a locally sourced continental breakfast of pastries from Rise Above bakery and coffee from Exo Roast Co. And if you really can’t be bothered to pick up a pan again until 2021, the Posada can bring in Tucson-based, CIA-trained private chef Ezra Katz to prepare dinners.