Little Gem in the Desert ~ Jojoba Hills RV Resort

LuAnn
Lovely clouds blanket the mountains and cast interesting shadows on the desert floor.
Lovely clouds blanket the mountains and cast interesting shadows on the desert floor.

We have been in our winter home at Jojoba Hills RV Resort near Temecula, CA for almost three months now and are enjoying it immensely.  I must confess to being a bit skeptical about the thought of spending so much time being stationary, at least the wheels on our home.  But this new lifestyle, a wonderful blending of community and travel, suits us just fine.  We have found an active group of caring, supportive folks that we bonded with immediately.  I am pleased to call Jojoba Hills our winter home and wanted to take a moment to share a little history of this beautiful resort.

Twenty-five years ago a small group from a local chapter of an Escapee’s RV Club had a vision, one that many might consider reckless or foolhardy.  Thank goodness for grandiose dreamers, those with a pioneering spirit, for this is what it took, along with a huge dose of tenacity, hard work, and synergy, to breathe life into Jojoba Hills RV Resort.  What was once barren desert is now a sparkling little gem overlooking Palomar Mountain and the Aguanga Valley.

This small band of visionaries, men and women with a median age of 67, began the arduous task of clearing 145 acres of rattlesnake-infested hills and canyons.  Although many tradesmen were represented, I learned that volunteers were transformed into whatever was needed – “salesmen became electricians or plumbers and hair dressers became welders”.  Women who had never wielded a hammer stood alongside the men building the sheds and setting the forms for concrete patios.  The “Rockettes”, most if not all women, painstakingly placed 25,000 feet of rocks into drains and culverts, securing the drainage system, all the while considering the aesthetics of the resort.

My new favorite sport – pickleball!

Over 292,500 volunteer hours moved 1.2 million cubic yards of dirt, 2700 tons of rock, built 5 miles of road, dug 35 miles of trenches, poured 119,000 square feet of concrete, etc., etc.  Except for a handful of professionals who were paid a fee, the remaining crew did this back-breaking work for nothing more than coffee and their daily ration of homemade cookies…an immense labor of love.

My sense of reluctance at finding enough to interest me and occupy my time has been transformed into wonderment at all this resort has to offer.  There are pickleball and tennis courts, a lap pool, hot tubs, saunas, a well-equipped fitness room, yoga class, photography club, art classes, sewing room, hiking club, book club, pottery classes, woodworking shop, and, be still my heart, a writers’ group.  The list of amenities is extensive, not to mention the countless opportunities to volunteer, which is highly encouraged, as this resort is maintained by the generous volunteering spirit of its members.

One of six lovely ponds grace the property.
One of six lovely ponds grace the property.

Many of the founding residents are now beginning to move on to the next phase in their lives, but those who remain have the most delightful stories to share.  I have found the most heartwarming sense of community here at Jojoba Hills, and have lived nowhere else where the support of neighbors is so pervasive.  You cannot walk or drive by anyone without receiving a warm smile and a wave – the Jojoba way.

A new day dawns at Jojoba Hills.
A new day dawns at Jojoba Hills.

Temecula is only 17 miles away and has a great farmers’ market and lots of opportunity for retail therapy, if that is your thing.  Jojoba Hills is surrounded by wine country and within an easy drive of San Diego, Anza Borrego, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree National Park.  There are countless other adventures to be had across California. Death Valley is on our calendar for this winter, as is the Central Coast.

If you find yourself wandering around in the deserts of So. Cal, you might want to check out Jojoba Hills.  They’re an awfully friendly bunch here. 🙂

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