Entrepreneur Kristen Lewis found her ideal family vacation home in Borrego Springs, a dark-sky community nestled in a 600,000 acre park.
Borrego Springs, surrounded on all sides by Anza-Borrego State Park, is where coastal Californians go to relax. Despite being in the literal middle of a near-barren desert, this lively community has a town center with boutiques and restaurants. The town is home to the Galleta Meadows Sculpture Park, an unusual outdoor metallic art exhibit, and is only minutes away from the Carrizo Badlands, a formidable natural landscape.
"We wanted to have a place to go where we could connect as a family," Lewis says. " I have two children under nine and I want them to play outside and swim."
Charlotte Lea
The town is also the only certified dark sky community in California. "The stars out there are insane, and you forget where you are. You can see the Milky Way, planets, and meteor showers," says homeowner Kristen Lewis. "It’s very spiritual."
The stone-edged fire pit is a family favorite. "We do s'mores around the fire every time we go, walk the golf course at night, and love watching the sunsets against the pink mountains," she says.
Charlotte Lea
So, when it came to finding a desert house, one that would eventually be placed on Vrbo, Borrego Springs was definitely on Lewis's radar. For years, she had looked at homes in Joshua Tree but within the span of two years, prices went up from "$500k to $800K for a fixer upper. Homes there won’t appreciate like they do in Orange County so it would be an investment," Lewis explains.
Homes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park vary in style. "There's a Spanish-style country club, and if you were to ride your bike around the neighborhood, there are beautiful Southwestern, midcentury, and modern homes with oversized lots."
Charlotte Lea
See the full story on Dwell.com: This Rentable Midcentury Jewel Glitters in California’s Largest State Park