About Joshua Tree
Located in California’s windswept Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree is most well known for Joshua Tree National Park and its namesake spiky desert trees. The small community, with just over 7,000 residents, thrives on tourism to the nearby national park, offering visitors a respite before or after they venture into the desert.
The Mojave Desert is one of the hottest and driest places in the country, and temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees for several months out of the year. Several box office thrillers have been filmed in the desert surrounding Joshua Tree, as well as parts of the hit television show Entourage.
Outdoor recreation takes center stage in Joshua Tree, with dozens of trails to hike and bike, as well as numerous campgrounds and educational opportunities in the national park. Joshua Tree’s high desert location is a starkly beautiful place perfect for film and photo shoots looking to capture both the vast emptiness and surprising upshoots of vibrancy and life.
Attractions in Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree is a remote community in the Mojave Desert, but there are plenty of sights to see and activities to engage in. There are countless opportunities to leave the grind of city or suburban life behind for a few hours or a few days to let nature ease away some of the stress.
- Joshua Tree National Park
A visit to Joshua Tree wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the national park right next door. Joshua Tree National Park is one of the country’s most unique environments, with the signature fuzzy, spiky Joshua trees being found nowhere else on Earth. Guests can hike, camp and explore or even stretch out below the Milky Way at night. With its uninterrupted dark skies, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the best locations in the country for stargazing or photographing the night sky.
- Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum
One of the oddest and most interesting museums you’re likely to see in southern California, the Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum is a delightful display of sculptures assembled from, well, just about anything. Metal and wood scraps, old folding chairs sat on defunct flatbed trailers and mysterious-looking totem poles constructed from old kegs are just a few of the weird and wonderful sculptures you’ll see on your tour.
- Panorama Loop Trail
Hike the eight-mile Panorama Loop Trail between the months of March and October and you’ll be treated to a surprise you may not know existed in such a seemingly inhospitable environment – a colorful spray of desert wildflowers. You’ll also be rewarded with stunning views of the Little San Bernardino Mountains and surrounding high desert landscape.
Production Locations in Joshua Tree
The vast expanse of the Mojave Desert is a versatile location for both photography and film. Viewers can imagine a dangerous void, a hot, windy planet or a post-apocalyptic wasteland depending on how you treat the sparse landscape. There are several filming locations, both indoor and outdoor, to meet your needs, and several local businesses to help you shake off the heat.
- Desert Scenery
Chances are you came to Joshua Tree to film a beautiful desert landscape, and areas around the community don’t disappoint. The windswept stretches look stunning at sunrise and sunset, and you’ll find scenery with and without any signs of human habitation for miles. Because of the remote location, Joshua Tree is great for filming scenes with many special effects – check out a desert ranch location and imagine the possibilities.
- Private Homes
For a small community, there are a surprising number of both traditional and decidedly non-traditional homes available for filming and interesting photo shoots. Pueblo-style adobes, Mid-Century ranches, modern houses and western-style buildings can all be found, along with some interesting alternatives – a vintage mobile home, a geodesic dome and a one-of-a-kind straw bale house in the desert with great views.
- Main Street
Joshua Tree’s Main Street may not be as quaint as one you’d find in the average American town, but it does have its own charm. A shopping district, many different types of restaurants and boutiques, and historic buildings can all be found here.
Event and Meeting Venues in Joshua Tree
Getting in touch with nature can be a great way to relax and get some work done. There are several venues perfect for small to medium-sized work groups, committees and other business-related activities. The whole area is a scenic smorgasbord for special events like weddings, parties and family get-togethers.
- Private Homes
Because Joshua Tree thrives on tourism, you won’t see a lot of corporate boardrooms here. Instead, pack up your laptop, grab some snacks and get ready to work on your project or host your meeting with colleagues at one of the city’s beautiful residences. You’ll find everything from sleek and modern to old-fashioned and quirky. And just because Joshua Tree is fairly remote doesn’t mean you can’t have a luxury experience.
- One-of-a-kind Locations
Perhaps because of the surrounding extreme landscape, desert communities are often colorful in every sense of the word, and Joshua Tree is no exception. You’ll be the talk of your social circle for years when you host your event at a quirky, out of the ordinary place like Area 55, a restored 1960’s future house suggesting we’re not alone in the universe. You can also channel your wild west dreams at the Joshua Tree Saloon.
- Vintage Travel Trailers
If you want the experience of camping without the hassle of dragging along a tent, building a campfire and then cooking over it, or suffering a host of minor (bugs) to major (storms) inconveniences, consider hosting your event at one of Joshua Tree’s vintage travel trailers. A large vintage airstream, for example, is perfect for an intimate wedding, birthday or anniversary celebration.
