LA-based Manola Studio has renovated a 1940s motel to create a boutique hotel close to the north entrance to Joshua Tree National Park.
The 12-room, adults-only Hotel Wren sits on the outskirts of Twentynine Palms, a small town in California’s High Desert that acts as a gateway into the park.
Manola Studio transformed the historic roadside lodge into a contemporary boutique property, while retaining the layout and highlighting the architectural character.
“Hotel Wren is my love letter to the desert, a place that still recenters me every time I return,” said Manola Studio founder Jessica Pell.
“Joshua Tree has a way of making you feel both small and completely at home — its ancient rock formations shaped by time, the endless horizon, the sky burning gold before deepening into a field of stars.”
“It quiets the noise and makes you listen,” she continued. “I wanted Wren to reflect that stillness, a space where architecture and landscape exist in quiet conversation, where every material and every detail is chosen with care and intention.”
The hotel is organised around a central courtyard, where loungers flank a swimming pool and hot tub, and dining tables and chairs are surrounded by desert flora.
At the rear, a shaded lounge area with comfy sofas is tucked away to offer a respite from the heat.
A colour and material palette lifted from the surrounding landscape combines hand-trowelled plaster with custom terracotta floors, carved woodwork and hand-painted tiles.
“The interiors mirror the desert’s shifting hues — cream, sand, sage, adobe pink, rust, and deep ochre — colours that evolve with the changing light,” said Manola Studio.
The lobby and lounge space is anchored by a brick fireplace and custom wooden built-ins featuring hand-carved motifs by artist Nik Gelormino.
Cream-coloured walls are decorated with a mural by artist Kim Swift that recreates the local plant life, while the furniture is a curated mix of vintage, custom and locally sourced pieces.
“The hotel was designed to feel like stepping into a home — where every element has been chosen with care, and hospitality is rooted in connection,” Manola Studio said.
Guest rooms are spacious and airy, with lofted ceilings, warm neutral decor and no televisions – to preserve the peace and quiet of the desert.
The rooms along the western side of the property have patios that open directly onto the desert to encourage exploration.
Those on the other side enjoy enclosed, more secluded patios with outdoor showers, built-in banquettes and gas fireplaces.
While there’s no restaurant, a pantry-style store named Windsong sells food and drinks to be prepared in the guest room kitchenettes, as well as merchandise and gifts.
In front, a former porte cochere was converted into a covered outdoor dining area for meeting and sharing meals with fellow guests.
Twentynine Palms has seen a recent revival as visitors numbers to Joshua Tree National Park continue to grow, with other openings in the town including Reset Hotel built from shipping container-style modules.
Other accommodation options in the area include the AutoCamp Airstream glamping site and the rentable Folly cabins wrapped in weathering steel.
The photography is by Ethan Jones.
