Looking for something completely different from another house in a subdivision?
This private, fully off-grid Southern California desert retreat sits on nearly five acres in a unique historic homestead community surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It’s an established, livable retreat—not simply vacant desert land waiting for someone to develop it.
The property already has the essentials for independent desert living: solar electric power, plentiful water, and propane, along with a rustic custom owner-built cabin, two storage/work sheds and a recently renovated vintage glamping trailer. The enclosed cabin is approximately 575 sq. ft., but the retreat lives considerably larger. An additional approximate 1,800 sq. ft. of outdoor living areas—including the covered front porch, screened porch, rear deck and rooftop deck—were intentionally designed as an extension of the cabin. In all but the summer months, these outdoor spaces are where much of life here actually happens.
YOUR OWN PIECE OF THE MOUNTAIN
Unlike many desert properties that sit on flat parcels surrounded by roads and neighboring homes, much of this nearly five-acre property extends dramatically up the mountainside behind the cabin.
For the right person, that’s not wasted acreage. It’s privacy, hiking terrain, wildlife habitat, spectacular views and a natural mountain backdrop.
You don’t just own a desert cabin—you own part of the mountain.
The surrounding terrain provides an unusual sense of privacy, while the mountain and nearby protected desert create a setting that feels wonderfully remote.
ESTABLISHED OFF-GRID LIVING
The property includes:
- Solar electric power
- Established and plentiful water supply
- Propane Appliances
- Two storage/work sheds
- Renovated vintage glamping trailer
- Established road access
- Nearly five acres of desert and mountainside terrain
The cabin was designed and owner-built for personal use by a licensed California General Contractor, and the construction process was extensively photographed from the earliest stages through completion. A complete construction photo archive is available to serious buyers. *
WILDLIFE AT YOUR BACK DOOR
This is genuine Anza-Borrego desert country.
Coyotes, desert birds and other native wildlife are regular visitors. On two occasions, the famous Anza-Borrego bighorn sheep have appeared on the mountain directly behind the cabin—including three sheep photographed approximately 20 feet from the back door.
The wildlife photographs shown with this property aren’t stock images. They were taken here.
DARK SKIES, SUNRISES AND SILENCE
The community is known for its exceptionally dark skies. On clear nights, the Milky Way can be spectacular, and one of the photographs included with this listing was professionally taken at the cabin with the Milky Way overhead.
And then morning arrives.
Desert sunrises, mountain views and the kind of quiet that is increasingly difficult to find in Southern California are simply part of living here.
HISTORY AND ADVENTURE
The surrounding Anza-Borrego region is rich in California desert history, with historic stagecoach routes, old ruins and miles of backcountry nearby. Indian Gorge and outstanding hiking, exploring and four-wheel-drive country are within easy reach.
For hikers, photographers, off-grid enthusiasts, desert explorers, astronomy lovers—or simply someone looking for a private place to get away from modern life—this is a very unusual property.
BUILT AS A RETREAT, NOT A SPEC HOUSE
This cabin wasn’t built as a quick investment or speculative project. It was built by the owner, a licensed General Contractor, as a personal desert retreat.
Many photographs document the construction from the first day of the build through completion, giving the next owner an unusually detailed visual history of the property.
*The cabin and improvements are owner-built and were constructed outside the conventional building-permit process. Buyers should perform their own due diligence regarding permitting, financing and insurance requirements. Buyers requiring financing should confirm eligibility with their lender prior to scheduling a showing.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE SHOWINGS
With cooler fall temperatures arriving, the property is now available for private showings by appointment. This is an ideal time to experience the desert retreat, explore the surrounding landscape, and appreciate the unique lifestyle this property offers.
Additional photographs, construction documentation and detailed information about the cabin and off-grid systems are available to serious prospective buyers.
This won’t be the right property for everyone.
But if you’ve been looking for a private, established off-grid desert hideaway with land, independence, history, wildlife, dark skies and your own piece of a mountain, it might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
