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EAT
CREATE
STAY
fuel up with delicious home cooked meals with herbs and greens from our own gardens
STAY
CREATE
STAY
luxurious rooms in the desert wilderness
CREATE
CREATE
CREATE
sign up for a class, or sign up for our volunteer program!
The Experience at Villa Anita DV
THE EXPERIENCE AT VILLA ANITA IS ABOUT TRULY DISCONNECTING (Yes, that means no cell service and limited wifi!!!!!!)
Villa Anita DV is located just at the end of a private road, on the edge of Mojave desert wilderness in the tiny town of Tecopa, California. The magical property has views and access to one of the most untouched and pristine places on earth. Surrounded by panoramic scenes of mountains all around, you will see the stars of the milky way at night, hear coyotes howling at dawn, and feel your thoughts melt away into the magnetic quiet of the desert. Run by two artists, Carlo and Jack with experience in hospitality, design, and fine art, Villa Anita has become a unique destination in and of itself.
When you first arrive, we will take you into the original desert house, built by architect, Robert Blake in 1951. After learning about the origins of the project, we'll briefly show you around the property on the way to your room. Once settled in, you will start to decompress when you realize you have left all your stresses behind you. After that, you can decide to enjoy some quiet time, take a stroll into the desert, or take an art class....Villa Anita DV is an interactive experience so come ready to participate!
Please note that there are dogs that live on the property. They will greet you when you first arrive! Some of the accommodations are more private, where there is little interaction with us and our dogs, and some accommodations are pet friendly! The experience at Villa Anita is catered to you, so make sure to tell us about your needs and we'll make sure you have a fabulous time here!
The desert is powerful and the property is isolated, so be prepared to feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.
The History and future of Villa Anita DV
How Did Villa Anita Begin?
While Villa Anita DV offers one-of-a-kind rooms to spend the night in one of the most untouched and pristine places on earth, it is also a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit art museum with an educational focus on reclamation of life, materials, discard, and ourselves. Overnight guests, families on vacation , and high school classes have turned Villa Anita DV into a getaway, laboratory, experience, etc. for everyone to learn something and be inspired.
Founded by artist, Carlo Roncancio in 2010, Villa Anita DV started with a piece of property in the tip of Death Valley NP and a log cabin style house built with railroad ties. Set against the backdrop of the vast, open desert, the unique house and property were a blank canvas for Carlo. Now, it is 10 acres filled with sculptures, cabanas and, shaded walkways, diverse vegetable and fruit gardens, and piles of materials waiting to be used for future projects. Now, Carlo and his partner Jack Holloman live on the property full time with their five rescue dogs. Living here, they have created a comfortable dwelling with recycled materials in an oppressive climate, and it is a continuous process. They have discovered alternative ways to use everyday objects that are forgotten about or thrown away. For example, a broken refrigerator sitting on it's back becomes a raised bed for veggies. An old deformed piece of furniture becomes part of an outdoor wall, casting shade.
There are countless ways to reuse the everyday objects of our lives, and part of our mission here has become to salvage these materials before they make it to a landfill. This act of salvaging has further manifested itself in our lives by teaching us to reclaim the parts of us that we have forgotten about, or that are buried too deeply within us. This is an extremely healing process, and the reason we live, work, and create here year-round. We realized that even back in the beginning, when Villa Anita DV was a barren piece of property, the land itself and the historic cabin had to be reclaimed and salvaged from desertification. Since then, and through the act of reclaiming, Villa Anita DV has become an oasis, a powerful ship, a site of recovery, and now a place for the gathering of people.
Volunteer With Us!
Learn more about salvaging materials and creative reuse by volunteering with us! As a volunteer, you will live and eat with us, and work on all kinds of different projects with us!