Oasis Ranch is much more than a vacation rental—it’s the story of resilience, faith, and building a dream one step at a time. I purchased this property in October of 2020 while serving on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. During a winter training exercise in Bridgeport, California, I suffered a serious knee injury that ultimately led to a medical separation from the military. At the time, it felt like one of the biggest disappointments of my life. Looking back now, it was one of the greatest blessings God could have given me.
While recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, I began asking myself what my next chapter would look like. I’ve always loved the Mojave Desert—its silence, endless horizons, and rugged beauty. Using my VA loan, I started searching for property in an area where I could both afford to invest and build something meaningful.
After months of searching and several rejected offers, I stumbled across an unusual Facebook listing. The photos mostly showed palm trees, five acres of desert, and only a couple of vague pictures of a small cabin. Something about it caught my attention. A few hours later, I grabbed one of my Marine buddies and drove out to see it. The moment we pulled through the gate, I knew I had found something special.
The property was rough. The cabin needed enormous amounts of work, and I later learned it had looked even worse just a week earlier before a neighbor had helped clean it enough to list. Most people probably would have driven away. I saw possibility.
Originally, I planned to renovate the property with the help of investors. I estimated the project would cost well over $100,000 and assumed I’d only be able to contribute some demolition and carpentry work from skills I’d learned growing up and working construction. That investor never came. So I built Oasis Ranch myself.
Over the next six years, nearly every improvement was completed with my own hands. Working on a tight budget forced me to become resourceful. I searched Facebook Marketplace, traded with neighbors, rescued materials that others had thrown away, and repurposed forgotten pieces of the desert into something beautiful. Redwood decking, reclaimed lumber, salvaged materials, and countless hours of work slowly transformed an aging cabin into the place you see today.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful I never found the investor I was searching for. Being forced to build with creativity instead of money gave Oasis Ranch a character that couldn’t have been purchased. Every project taught me how to create instead of consume, how to solve problems instead of avoiding them, and how beauty can come from things most people overlook.
Today, very little of the original cabin remains untouched. Behind its simple desert-cabin exterior is a completely modernized home with updated plumbing, electrical, new windows, upgraded doors, outdoor living spaces, and countless custom-built details. Every corner reflects years of work, lessons learned, and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship.
But Oasis Ranch is still just getting started. This first phase marks the beginning of a much larger vision. Future plans include expanding the palm grove, planting orchards and edible gardens, creating ponds and natural swimming areas, adding more native landscaping, outdoor gathering spaces, additional guest accommodations, and eventually welcoming horses onto the property. My long-term goal is to transform Oasis Ranch into a beautiful, largely self-sustaining desert retreat powered by renewable energy and designed to live in harmony with the land.
I’m not sure Oasis Ranch will ever truly be finished—and I hope it never is. To me, it’s a living work of art—a place that will continue to evolve, grow, and improve year after year.
Whether you’re here to experience the quiet beauty of the Mojave Desert, explore Joshua Tree National Park, or simply slow down for a few days beneath some of the darkest night skies in California, I’m honored to share this place with you.
If you feel called to experience Oasis Ranch more fully, I would be grateful to welcome you in person. You can reserve your stay through Airbnb or Vrbo and step into the desert story for yourself.