The Reset Hotel in Twentynine Palms, California, co-founded by designer Benjamin Uyeda and entrepreneur Adam Wininger, is a unique new-build hospitality project—the first in the area near Joshua Tree National Park in over 15 years. Built almost entirely from prefabricated, steel-frame modular units designed to mimic the aesthetic of shipping containers, the hotel rejects traditional luxury in favor of stark, minimalist design. Its philosophy is simple: create an architectural framework that allows the sublime desert wilderness to take center stage. Set on 180 acres with only a fraction developed, Reset Hotel offers 65 rooms designed for stillness and connection, featuring private outdoor spaces, soaking tubs for stargazing, and a deliberate absence of in-room distractions like televisions.
Modular Construction Meets the High Desert
The defining characteristic of the Reset Hotel is its innovative construction method. The hotel’s 65 guest rooms are housed within steel-framed modular units, specifically chosen to withstand the challenging logistics and environment of the high desert. While visually resembling the industrial grit of shipping containers, the structures were manufactured off-site and transported to Twentynine Palms, offering a practical solution for building a full-amenities hotel in a remote location.
This modular approach was not merely functional but a deliberate aesthetic choice. The units, finished in neutral, earthy tones—dusty-brown for the communal Clubhouse and gray for the guest rooms—are intended to blend with the arid mountainous backdrop. The stark, industrial forms provide a striking, minimalist contrast to the organic, sculptural shapes of the surrounding Joshua trees and desert landscape.
Designing for Stillness and Sensory Connection
The core purpose of the Reset Hotel’s design, spearheaded by Uyeda and Gry Space interiors, is to facilitate an authentic, immersive connection between the guest and nature. The rooms, intentionally small and simple, feature minimalistic interiors with raw materials and no in-room televisions, encouraging guests to disengage from technology and reconnect with their surroundings.
The architecture acts as a frame for the desert. Each module features a large picture window next to the bed, offering uninterrupted mountain views that make the landscape the primary focus. This thoughtful framing ensures that the stark beauty of the desert is the dominant experience, fulfilling the hotel’s mission to invite guests to “slow down and let the desert in, both visually and emotionally.”
The Essential Role of Private Outdoor Space
Recognizing that the true luxury of the desert lies in the vast, open sky and the extreme solitude, the designers placed enormous emphasis on private outdoor spaces. Every single room features a private patio with an individual Solo Stove fire pit and lounge chairs.
The larger Mountain View King suites occupy a full module and boast expansive patios that include outdoor stone soaking tubs. These tubs are deliberately positioned for stargazing, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the high desert’s signature amenity: its dark, clear night sky. The strategic placement of the modules also ensures that guests in the larger suites have direct, unimpeded access to wander straight into the 170 acres of undeveloped “playa” wilderness surrounding the built area.
A New Model for Community and Conservation
The Reset Hotel is built on a 180-acre plot, yet the development intentionally occupies only 10 acres. The vast majority of the land is preserved as undisturbed wilderness, offering a nature reserve and a platform for evolving outdoor art installations and self-guided trails. This approach prioritizes conservation and ensures that the hotel remains a light footprint on the fragile high desert ecosystem.
The central Clubhouse, which houses the reception, a café/bar, and a co-working space, acts as the social anchor. This communal space, alongside the 1,600-square-foot saltwater pool and jacuzzi area, offers modern amenities without disrupting the overall atmosphere of tranquility. By blending minimalist design with a clear commitment to conserving the natural landscape, Reset Hotel provides a new, considered model for hospitality in protected natural areas.
