Our Story
It started with empty land and a rusted 1947 quonset hut that stood the test of time. It was our cue to honor the industrial ingenuity that made it so durable. We spent a decade honing the vision to create a container for intimate gatherings and magical desert experiences.
What began in 2016 as a Quonset hut conversion into a tiny home evolved into a shipping container compound when a vision to steward this land as a gathering space came into focus. The Shipping Yards is a system to transport and enhance your wellbeing.
The Compound
The Shipping Yards is a private retreat center on 5 acres, with commanding views of Joshua Tree Park to the south, the Partlett Mountains to the north, and San Gorgonio Mountain to the west, the highest peak in Southern California at 11,500 ft.
Amenities and services include:
53 foot pool, with swim lanes, jacuzzi for 12, tanning deck
Watsu pool
Massage Room
600 sq foot original Quonset Hut outdoor activation space for dance parties, yoga, sound baths and other communal activities
640 sq ft indoor double-wide community space for yoga, ceremony, dining and hanging out
Indoor / Outdoor Kitchen and lounge
Gas fire ring that seats 12.
2 additional wood-burning firepits.
5 container sleeping pods
Community bathroom with 2 showers (1 with steam for 2), 2 toilets, and double vanity
2 Vintage Travel Trailers with their own bathrooms
Staff home with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Additional activities offered: hikes, electric bikes, stargazing, rock climbing.
Quonset Huts
This little slice of history dates back to World War 2, and were conceived and built in Quonset, Rhode Island to be easy-to-assemble structures that could withstand severe weather. They were shipped flat around the world, assembled in two days, and used for barracks to house 8 soldiers. They might be considered the first pre-fabricated structures, and were initially marketed as homes after the war. America wasn’t ready for such an industrial look. But we are.
