Is a tipi for you?

Cynthia’s Home. The tipis are in the yard and trees right next to Cynthia’s home. If you stay in the tipis, please respect her home and the quiet desert environment that she loves so much. She values her privacy, just as she protects yours. Parts of Cynthia’s life are a wonderful, gentle dog and a cat, which roam the premises.

Farm Life. Cynthia’s home and the tipis are located on China Ranch, a working date farm. The farmer/owner chooses to share his property with the public so that they may know the beauty of a rare desert oasis. Your tipi sits near stately date palms which need care to bear fruit. They are tended with machetes, the hands of the farm staff, and sometimes with noisy equipment. The fruits of this labor—several varieties of fresh dates—are available at the gift shop across the creek from the tipis.

Bird-Watching. The Amargosa River Canyon is home to more than 300 species of birds. The spring and fall migrations are spectacular. Hawks, hummingbirds, egrets, quail and turkey vultures are an everyday sight. Vagrant migrant species are not uncommon.

Camping, sort of. Staying in the tipis is like camping, but with comfortable room-like amenities. There’s an outdoorsy informality here. Guests share bathrooms and the common areas. Women, feel free to leave behind your makeup bag. You’ll feel quite comfortable without it.

Be low tech. Set aside your laptop computers and portable electronics, so that you can experience the views and the sounds you’ll find only here. There’s no Wi-Fi available at your tipi. Our guests treasure the desert quiet and don’t wish to hear music from someone else’s radio or CD player.

Wool socks. During the summer months, the desert is likely to be hotter than you’re used to. In winter, the nights can be cold. Prepare yourself by taking commonsense steps: check weather forecasts before you begin your trip to Cynthia’s. Bring warm sleeping clothes (hats, sweaters, sweatpants, and wool socks) if temperatures are likely to be cold.

Be Open If you choose to stay in a tipi, know that you are choosing to leave behind some of the instant comforts and reassurances of your usual life at home. At night, there is no light switch on the wall (although, of course, you’ll have a lantern). You may hear coyotes, or you may be unnerved by the absence of city sounds. Your cell phone will have no reception at your tipi. To truly enjoy your stay in the tipis, you should let the desert speak to you in its own voice. Return home with the secrets and inspiration the desert gives only to those who are open to new experiences.

China Ranch Road. The last mile on the drive to the tipis is a steep, winding gravel road, but easily manageable by all types of cars. Take your time and enjoy the unique desert landscape as you descend into the canyon. Please honor the 15 miles-per-hour speed limit, in case you meet another vehicle.

Be Considerate. There is no real danger from wild animals. Bobcats and coyotes are the largest animals around. They’re shy nocturnal creatures and our guests have never had a dangerous encounter with them. The desert is also home to insects and reptiles. Rattlesnakes and scorpions are occasionally seen, but again our guests have never suffered a bite or sting. Keep your eyes open as you walk about and remember that most animals seek naturally to avoid contact with humans. Be considerate and let wildlife go their own way.

Bring a picnic. The nearest restaurants are several miles’ drive away from your tipi, and their hours are sometimes irregular. Tipi-stayers have access to a large dining room, with a microwave oven, a refrigerator, kitchenware and dishes, so we recommend that you bring food to prepare your own meals. Please keep in mind that food and drinks (water being the exception) are not allowed in the Tipis. Prepare picnics or bring snacks to take along on your daytime outings or dine in our picnic areas. If you walk the mile or so to the Amargosa River, there are wonderful spots for an outdoor dejeuner.

Country mouse, city mouse. If you are not a wilderness type or have never slept in a remote desert or mountain area, the wide-open spaces just outside the tipi door may seem deserted, or even frightening. They should not be: you are far from the daily dangers of big city living (which many of us take for granted) and there is no crime in our area.

Explore. Relax. Enjoy. Above all, arrive prepared to relax and to accept the desert and its environs as a unique part of California life. Your tipi experience will be something you can find nowhere else.