Joshua Tree Retreat Center

This unassuming and rundown cluster of buildings sitting off the highway are in fact all designed by Frank Lloyd Wright Jr. For any of his fans, this is a fun compound to explore up close and personal. Goes to show, what random things you can find in the desert.

It is old but a perfect sanctuary and still close to the city.

I rarely write reviews but I feel it necessary that someone in the future might read this and heed it's advice. This place was once an incredible place when the original designer was on earth. The land does have a good 'natural' vibe, meaning, the land itself feels good. My best time at the Retreat was in 2016 for a Contact In The Desert conference. But when you add humans to the picture, the ranch is very dysfunctional. Recently, an 'employee' of the ranch, a ' 'healer' and massage person ' hired me to create a mural for her massage studio located on the east part of the property. I didnt know her all too well but I made a massive mistake. Before creating her mural I did not ask for a contract or a deposit (can you guess where this is going?) and it cost me because I had nothing stipulated in a contract. I created a stunning mandala for her I was paid 1/5th of what I quoted her for in making the art. When I asked the director of the center for help with getting a payment she said she knew nothing about agreeing to a mural, etc., and she wasn't interested in helping. (And yet she witnessed me make the mural and didn't ask the woman who hired me or myself who was paying for the mural, etc., how convenient?) *warning to any Joshua Tree local artists* DO NOT get lured in by this center to create art work. I was lured in with promises after promises (hey we need more murals! jazz the place up!) and I was promptly gas light you when I finished the commission. OR if you're brave enough to handle the personalities at this place, GET A CONTRACT OR DEPOSIT UPFRONT. I won't go into the details of my experience with the person who asked me to make the mural initially, as its irrelevant, but I will say this... do not give her an opportunity to manipulate you. The positive side to all this? It has been an educational experience in as much as realizing nothing is ever as it seems with many people that you meet. I'm a bit naive that way. But I'm still learning!