The Bust'n B Ranch

A Sheriff's Residence Revisited

Established by the former county sheriff as his private family residence, this striking ranch house makes living in the desert wilds a luxuriously easygoing experience. Re-envisioned in 2023 by designer Sydney Ballesteros and Wedgar Properties, the Pioneertown-area residence offers an earthen adobe-look on the outside, with an elegantly spare, contemporary Western vibe indoors. The home’s tiles were handmade in Mexico.

A long saltwater lap pool stretches in the sand out back, with a striking boulder outcropping as backdrop, and there are dining, cooking, playing and lazing spaces all around the scenic lot.

Outdoor amenities include a western red cedar sauna and copper outdoor shower, a garage-enclosed game room with a ping pong table and gym, a gas fire pit under the stars, and a grill and wraparound porches.

Despite its seclusion on 25+ desert acres, there’s a dedicated workspace, smart technology and Starlink wifi.

Around

The house is located in Pioneertown, a quick trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Set on a 25+-acre ranch with a large horse arena, this Mojave Desert ranch takes in 360-degree views of the Sawtooth Mountains, Black Lava Butte, Sand to Snow Monument and the Big Bear Mountains. The land is textured with tall, top-heavy yucca and the strange silhouettes of spiky Joshua trees, and constructed in an area marked by swaying ocotillo spikes and low-lying opuntia paddles. The adobe-styled, sand-hued home melds with the rose-hued, boulder-strewn slice of desert it occupies, a picturesque retreat created for easy relaxation and modern comforts.

This area of the California desert is home to Joshua Tree National Park, retro glam Palm Springs and the new-age artistic playground of the Coachella Valley. Pioneertown itself is a historic Hollywood remnant, a Wild West movie set-turned-rugged desert community, home to gritty residents who find inspiration in the boulder- and cacti-studded landscape. It offers a handful of galleries and roadhouses, including the famous Pappy and Harriet’s Palace. Outdoor adventures are abundant in the area, including hiking, mountain biking and rock-climbing in and around Joshua Tree National Park and the Yucca Valley, and day trips to the cooler landscapes of the San Jacinto mountains, Indian Canyon or Palm Canyon.

Location

Pioneertown, Mojave Desert, California, US. Nearest airport: Indio/Palm Springs (1 hour)

Best time to visit

Year round

Photography: First image courtesy of @yoshihiromakino