Wake up on Mars (Sort of) at Reset Hotel
Issue 014 Hotel Review: On the edge of Joshua Tree National Park, a series of shipping container-like modules form an essential, elemental, otherworldly hotel.
As the day’s first light creeps over the mountains, the soft dawn glow draws out the red-purple hues of the arid, rocky landscape. Next to my bed, the window cut-out from the metal container frames the silhouetted ridgeline, and the eerie quiet of night remains even as the sun continues to rise. This could easily be the opening for a sci-fi novel, but it was actually my experience waking up at Reset Hotel. A new 65-key property on the outskirts of Twentynine Palms, in the High Desert of California, this otherworldly property is an experiment in architectural and spatial efficiency. Its wilderness setting invites guests to slow down and mentally refresh as they appreciate the rugged beauty.
The hotel is set on 180 acres that directly abut Joshua Tree National Park, and is just minutes from its official North Entrance. A decision was taken early on to build only on a 10-acre parcel of the available plot that’s closest to the town. This way, the openness of the land and sky, the scale of the mountainous backdrop, and the silence of the setting all remain unspoiled. I spent just one night at Reset Hotel back in October 2025, but it was a highly impactful 24 hours. Continue reading for the full story!
