Death Valley Visitors Guide - 11th Edition

By Robin Flinchum W ith an inventive emphasis on combining creature comforts and immersive outdoor ad- ventures, local entrepreneurs are turn- ing the gateway communities of Tecopa and Shoshone into arts and ecotourism destinations in their own right. Extraordinary lodging opportunities abound here, from a livable art installation to an upscale motel at the edge of a hidden oasis, from tipis to tiny camping cabins, the emphasis is on bringing visitors into the natural world. Cynthia Keinitz, proprietor of Cynthia’s Safaris and Desert Lodging in Tecopa, says her passion is sharing the transformative effect of experiencing the desert’s beauty up close. “I want to encourage people to let it work its magic on them,” she says, and she puts in a great deal of creative effort behind the scenes to make sure her guests are comfortable while they explore. Keinitz specializes in group adventures and personally tailors the stay to suit the needs of the group. Options for her visitors include guided hiking trips, off-road safaris in a fleet of side-by-side all-terrain vehicles kept on the premises, star gazing with astronomers and rock walks with geologists. Full meals can be catered by Cynthia’s using organic ingredients grown at the nearby Desert Bloom eco- farm, or guests can prepare their own meals in shared kitchens. The lodging facilities include remodeled trailers and tipis, with everything designed to emphasize the land itself, to lead the visitor outside, and to “have a tactile experience.” Also in Tecopa, tucked away on the edge of town where the scattered homes give way to the open sweep of the desert, is Villa Anita. Here an extraordinary collection of repurposed and recycled items, sculpted onto an old railroad tie cabin, take form as a livable art installation. Part art gallery, part museum, part educational retreat and bed and breakfast, Villa Anita “provides an artistic experience from which to really enjoy the isolation of the desert,” says David Aaron Smith, resident artist and curatorial partner. For the past six years the owners of Villa Anita, a community of artists and visionaries, have continually added to it so that the original cabin now only appears in glimpses. The structure is a living work of art, sometimes indoor and sometimes outdoor, wending through sheltered gardens, cozy sleeping rooms, and giant sculptures. Some areas are sheltered by billowy fabric panels or large paintings, others made of colorful bottle walls, an upended boat, repurposed trailers and a variety of bright and brilliant castoff pieces from closed-out hotels in Las Vegas. Villa Anita, says Smith, is now incorporated as a nonprofit outdoor museum. In addition to inspiring artists and offering lodging, one of the biggest goals for the Villa’s future is to encourage and even educate others in the art of building with recycled materials. The Villa offers three book- able guest rooms, though Smith stresses that it is not a hotel. Villa Anita is a deeply personal desert experience. Tecopa is also rich in hiking opportunities, most notably the Grimshaw Lake Natural Area and watchable wildlife site, and the Amargosa Canyon. Accessing the extraordinary desert vistas of the Amargosa 6 Death Valley Vistiors Guide • 11th Edition Extraordinary Experiences await in Tecopa and Shoshone The recently remodeled Shoshone Inn of- fers a touch of comfort in the desert. PHOTO BY ROBIN FLINCHUM Tecopa has four hot springs resorts offer- ing a variety of rejuvenating experiences. Cynthia’s Safaris helps visitors explore the desert. PHOTO COURTESY CYNTHIA’S SAFARIS CONTINUED ON PAGE 7