Come for the dark sky.

The house is named for one thing, and it delivers on it. If you're coming to the desert to look up, this is the stay built around exactly that.

Why the sky is so dark here

Two things work in your favour: dry Mojave air that keeps the stars sharp, and distance from the city glow. Yucca Valley sits beyond the worst of the Los Angeles and Palm Springs light domes, and Joshua Tree National Park next door is an International Dark Sky Park. On a moonless night, the Milky Way runs from ridge to ridge.

Your set-up for the night

• The restored car bed, with a custom stargazing roof that can be pulled back so you can watch the sky from your pillow.
• The gas fire pit — warmth without smoke or sparks to spoil your night vision.
• The hot tub — a soak under the stars once the desert cools.

Make the most of it

Plan around the moon: the darkest skies fall in the week around each new moon. Give your eyes twenty screen-free minutes to adjust, bring a warm layer and a red flashlight, and pack simple binoculars if you have them. For the best nights of the year and what to look for by season, read Stargazing in the Mojave. Then pick your dates around a new moon.