Handful of investors quietly purchase private land within Joshua Tree

By Olivia Harden, Travel Reporter
Feb 7, 2025

A handful of privately owned lots within the boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park in the Whispering Pines area were recently purchased, sparking concerns among environmentalists and some residents about what's coming to the California desert.

The roughly 2-square-mile wildland was once home to vacation cabins before becoming a refuge for the park's wildlife. However, buyers and entities linked to the Connecticut-based Darkhorse Tactical Investments have acquired more than 100 acres of total land since 2021, leading some to believe that the area is getting groomed for commercial development.

As first reported by the Los Angeles Times, entities connected to Darkhorse have acquired at least 117 acres across the 22 privately owned parcels. Investors, many of whom have ties to the hotel and hospitality or real estate industries, spent nearly $3 million on the land. There are no formal announcements for what's to come, and investors have remained tight-lipped about their plans for the Whispering Pines area.

Joshua Tree National Park is unlike other national parks; despite growing in popularity, it lacks lodging options beyond campgrounds. Over 3.3 million visitors came to the park in 2023.

“There’s obviously a demand for this kind of project,” Alan Reay, president of Atlas Hospitality Group, which specializes in hotel sales, told the LA Times.

More:
https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/handful-investors-purchase-land-joshua-tree-20154681.php

Or:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/mysterious-land-purchases-within-joshua-tree-national-park-worry-locals-environmentalists/ar-AA1yAulu