The story so far
edited Oct 12 · 2 paragraphs changedWhat is happening
The approval of a 100-unit luxury glamping resort near Joshua Tree National Park rests on a legal challenge to its environmental impact assessments 45. The Center for Biological Diversity and Indian Cove Neighbors filed a lawsuit on August 20, 2025, to overturn the city of Twentynine Palms' authorization of the Ofland Hotel 411. The petitioners allege the city failed to conduct a full environmental impact report required by the California Environmental Quality Act to evaluate risks to wildlife corridors and endangered desert tortoises 578.
San Bernardino County Land Use Services issued a Notice of Intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Joshua Tree Estates project 12. The document identifies the development as a commercial campsite featuring 50 Airstream trailers and 50 luxury tents on a 15-acre site 112. The county's environmental assessment includes specific mitigation measures intended to reduce potential impacts below a level of significance 112.
added Oct 12
San Bernardino County issued a formal Notice of Intent and Notice of Availability for the project's environmental assessment [12].
What to watch
A ruling from the San Bernardino County Superior Court would resolve the legal challenge against the city's approval of the resort 4. The close of the public review period for the Joshua Tree Estates environmental assessment would allow the San Bernardino County Planning Commission to hold a hearing on the Special Use Permit 112. A final decision from the National Park Service regarding road permits would determine access for the proposed development. The start or official halt of road construction would signal the next phase of the project's status.
updated Oct 12 · 1 earlier version
The new development opens a public review period and sets the stage for a Planning Commission hearing [12].
A ruling from the San Bernardino County Superior Court would resolve the legal challenge against the city's approval of the resort 4. The release of a final Environmental Impact Statement would address the environmental concerns raised by the petitioners. A final decision from the National Park Service regarding road permits would determine access for the proposed development. The start or official halt of road construction would signal the next phase of the project's status.
Read the full brief · how we got here
How we got here
The city of Twentynine Palms approved the glamping project in July 2025, located approximately a half-mile from the national park boundary 45. San Bernardino County issued a Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Joshua Tree Estates project on June 16, 2026 1. This followed a March 11, 2026, report on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions for the development 2. A planning commission staff report regarding the campsite proposal was previously released on March 5, 2026 3.
References · 9
- 1lus.sbcounty.gov — JOSHUA TREE ESTATES CEQA INTIAL STUDY COMMUNITY OF JOSHUA TREE,
- 2lus.sbcounty.gov — PROJ-2023-00129: Joshua Tree Estates Project
- 3lus.sbcounty.gov — LAND USE SERVICES DEPARTMENT PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
- 4biologicaldiversity.org — Lawsuit Challenges Luxury Resort Near Joshua Tree National Park - Center for Biological Diversity
- 5dailymail.co.uk — Locals near national park furious over plans to build glamping resort on their doorstep | Daily Mail Online
- 7latimes.com — A Vegas company wants to build a glamping resort near Joshua Tree National Park. Locals sued
- 8yahoo.com — Groups sue to block ‘glamping’ resort next to Joshua Tree National Park
- 11goldrushcam.com — Center for Biological Diversity Lawsuit Challenges 100 Unit Luxury Glamping Resort Near Joshua Tree National Park in California
- 12lus.sbcounty.gov — Joshua Tree Estates - Land Use Services
What would close this
0 of 4 metTimeline
2newest firstSan Bernardino County issues notice of intent to adopt mitigated negative declaration for Joshua Tree Estates
San Bernardino County Land Use Services issued a formal Notice of Availability and Notice of Intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Joshua Tree Estates project 1. This procedural step signals that the county has determined the project's environmental impacts can be mitigated below a level of significance, moving the development closer to a final permit decision 1.
Full analysiswritten from the full pages behind this update
What happened
San Bernardino County Land Use Services issued a Notice of Availability and a Notice of Intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Joshua Tree Estates project 1. The document identifies the development as a proposed "Special Use Permit for a commercial campsite" featuring 100 units 1. These units are planned to include 50 Airstream trailers and 50 luxury tents 1.
The county’s environmental assessment includes specific mitigation measures for the 15-acre site 1. The project site is located north of Highway 62, specifically at the northeast corner of Sunfair Road and Sunflower Road in the Joshua Tree area 1. According to the notice, the project would utilize an on-site well for water supply and individual septic systems for wastewater 1. The county has opened a public review period for this environmental document, allowing for written comments to be submitted to the Land Use Services Department 1.
Why it matters
The issuance of the Notice of Intent signals that San Bernardino County has determined the project’s potential environmental impacts can be reduced below a level of significance through mandated mitigation 1. This procedural step is a prerequisite for the county to grant a final permit for the 100-unit development 1. For the developer, the adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) avoids the more rigorous and time-consuming requirement of a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) 1.
The project’s reliance on an on-site well and septic systems places the burden of resource management on the local groundwater table 1. Opponents, including the Center for Biological Diversity and Indian Cove Neighbors, have previously sought to compel a full EIR to address wildlife corridors and the desert tortoise. The county’s current MND filing addresses these concerns through specific mitigation protocols rather than the broader study requested by petitioners 1.
What's next
The public review period for the Joshua Tree Estates environmental assessment is currently open for the submission of written comments 1. Following the close of this period, the San Bernardino County Planning Commission would hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration and the approval of the Special Use Permit 1.
A ruling from the San Bernardino County Superior Court regarding the 2025 lawsuit against the city of Twentynine Palms would clarify the legal standards required for glamping developments in the immediate vicinity of the park. Additionally, a final decision from the National Park Service regarding road permits remains necessary to determine legal access to the proposed site. The start of physical site preparation or road construction would confirm the project has moved from the permitting phase to active development.
When we started following: San Bernardino County issues draft environmental study for Joshua Tree Estates as Ofland Hotel litigation continues
San Bernardino County published a Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Joshua Tree Estates project on June 16, 2026 1. The county previously issued an air quality and greenhouse gas emissions report for the development on March 11, 2026 2. These filings follow a March 5, 2026, staff report from the Land Use Services Department Planning Commission regarding the campsite proposal 3.
Separately, the Center for Biological Diversity and Indian Cove Neighbors filed a lawsuit in San Bernardino County Superior Court on August 20, 2025, against the city of Twentynine Palms 411. The suit seeks to overturn the July 2025 approval of the Ofland Hotel, a 100-unit luxury glamping resort situated a half-mile from Joshua Tree National Park 45. The petitioners allege the city violated the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to conduct a full environmental impact report to assess effects on wildlife corridors, endangered desert tortoises, and air quality 578. A ruling from the San Bernardino County Superior Court would resolve the challenge to the city's approval.