When Jessica Jones first visited Joshua Tree five years ago for her best friend’s bachelorette party, she never wanted to leave. As she recalls, “I remember just staring out the window and thinking, Wow, this is such a magical place. Now, I get all the hype.” Jessica later decided to return to the California locale for a getaway on her own, but was met with a troubling realization while searching for accommodations. “I would look through the photos of who was represented in the different short-term rental listings, because they’ll usually have lifestyle photos that show people enjoying their rental space,” she adds. “I didn’t see one Black person.”
Increasingly disappointed by the lack of representation, Jessica realized that she had combed through about a thousand listings without seeing anyone who looked like her. “I was just looking for a photo that made me feel like, They want me to come here and stay at their place,” she says. “But they were all marketing to someone who is completely the opposite of who I am. Finally, I found one Black woman who owned a space and that was the person I booked with.”
The experience got her thinking, and it wasn’t long before Jessica decided to purchase a property in Joshua Tree. Nearly four months later, she closed on the five acres that would house her new business venture: Jewel Crest, a rental home built from the ground up. Jewel Crest is a 1,000-square-foot Scandinavian boho lofted cottage featuring a statement spiral staircase, a 400-square-foot patio, and sleek, bright bedrooms fitted with luxe mattresses. The website and Airbnb listing both promote the rental home as inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds.
Jessica, a registered dietician and cofounder of the health and wellness company Food Heaven, has long been a real estate and design aficionado. However, this was her first experience constructing a home from start to finish. The most challenging part, she says, was securing a new construction loan. “I actually got denied five times before finally getting the loan. I do wonder whether I was denied because I don’t fit the profile of those who typically come in to do a new construction investment project. People in real estate were saying to me, ‘You don’t really have any business doing that by yourself, you need a partner, you’re not going to get approved.’ But I did.”
As she was working with an architect to customize a pre-purchased home design plan, Jessica faced another obstacle in the form of a new county ordinance, forbidding any construction within 50 feet of an existing Yucca brevifolia. The trees are currently being considered for protection under the California Endangered Species Act due to threats from climate change and human activity. “We had to literally go out there with a 200-foot tape measure and put stakes into the ground to figure out where the dimensions of the house could be, to make sure we met the regulations. That was definitely another challenge,” Jessica says.
Jessica broke ground on Jewel Crest in June 2021 and initially planned for a fall opening. But between pandemic-related supply chain delays and not being able to view most of the items in person at various showrooms, the opening was delayed due to long lead times for materials. Not to mention that many of the decor pieces didn’t work together as well in person as they had in digital renderings; sending them back created a whole process in itself.
As for the design inspiration, Jessica wanted to veer away from the expected. “I love the desert decor, but we’ve already seen a lot of it,” she explains. “I wanted there to be vibrant colors and tons of plants, just something that feels cheerful. I don’t like things that are cold, so I didn’t want the concrete floors, even though they’re beautiful. I like warmth.”
Jessica’s favorite part of the house is the bathroom. With its blush pink Fireclay subway tile in the shower, and adobe-colored feldspar flooring, the bathroom has a midcentury modern feel. “Sometimes I go in there and just take a video to send to my family and friends,” she adds. The loft is another detail that makes Jewel Crest unique to the area. “I haven’t seen another loft in Joshua Tree myself,” says Jessica. “There’s this really cool lofted room on the second floor; it’s A-frame. The nice, clean lines are design elements all on their own, and I decided to keep it very cozy and minimal.”
If you search the hashtag #joshuatree on Instagram, you’ll find yourself scrolling for pages before seeing a single photo of a Black person. Despite initial hesitation Jessica decided to document the entire construction and design process on Instagram as a way to be visible in this space. “At first I had mixed feelings about sharing the progress, but I realized that people needed to see me, and the response has been incredible,” she explains. “People have told me that I encourage and motivate them, and how affirming it is to see not only a Black person, but a Black woman doing this.”
Jessica hopes to inspire more Black people to purchase and build rental property, not just in Joshua Tree but in other areas as well. It’s doable, but not without lots of perseverance and the willingness to be hands-on throughout the entire process. But in the end the joy of creating safe spaces outweighs the difficulties of construction. “We need to be able to be in these spaces and feel like we deserve to be here,” she concludes. “We belong, so it shouldn’t be some exclusive club where everyone is telling us no. I just hope that Jewel Crest helps to challenge that narrative.”
Jewel Crest officially opens its doors to the public on February 18. Reservations can be booked here.
