Rescued animals, living art, and wild desert beauty in one place.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit where more than one hundred rescued and rehomed animals roam free among installations, sculptures, and murals. A magic portal where nature and art make something transcendent. We are glad you found us.
The sanctuary knits four things into one self-sustaining, restorative space. An animal rescue and sanctuary. An outdoor desert art museum. A working farm for animals and humans. A restorative retreat. Every visit funds the animals' care and the art that keeps growing here.
A little oasis in the Mojave high desert.
Morongo Valley is a town of about five thousand people, not far from Joshua Tree National Park. The hills rise up around you, dotted with yucca that look like ancient creatures come to life. Nights are silent and full of stars. Sunsets are a work of art, and the air carries coyote songs and the scurrying of desert critters.
Down among the palms a natural pond grows thick with lotus, and a natural pool holds clear green water between the boulders. Day passes include it, and the Evening Tour ends with a swim in it.
Right now at the sanctuary
Live from the high desert. It will be different when you get here.
They live here. You are the guest.
Every animal here was rescued or rehomed, and they roam free. They interact on their own terms, which is exactly how it should be. Mornings and sunsets are when everyone comes out to say hello. And the work keeps moving. We rescue, foster, and rehome all year, and the ones who stay for good stay as permanent residents.
- Ryu, our ostrich
- Lola, our newest macaw
- mini horses
- mini donkeys
- mini cows
- goats
- pigs
- emus
- sulcata tortoises
- sphynx cats
- rescue dogs
- parrots
- peacocks
- chickens
- turkeys
- ducks
- guinea hens
Scroll sideways to meet everyone
Discover who will greet you first
The residents choose their people. Five questions, one very unscientific prediction of who finds you first.
An outdoor museum that never stops growing.
Art is everywhere here, with installations, sculptures, and murals around every corner. We support local and resident artists and are expanding our artist-in-residency program, so the sanctuary you visit next year will not be the one you visit today.
These stars are bells. Tap one.
The sound
The desert has a soundtrack. It is made of bronze.
The Gamelatron Sound Experience
The Gamelatron Tangan Ke Hati lives at the Center, a short walk through the sanctuary. Fifteen robotically played gongs wash the room in resonance for a full hour. Guests describe it as a sound bath, a meditation, and a reset button. It is all three.
Book a sessionThe button plays a generative echo synthesized live in your browser. The real thing is a room full of bronze. There is no comparison.
Four ways in.
Sanctuary Tour
The Guided ExperienceWalk through a living desert artwork.
- A guided walk through immersive desert installations
- Meet rescued animals in their sanctuary home
- Learn the stories of rescue, healing, and belonging
Evening Tour + Swim
The Evening ExperienceTour, then chill as the desert cools.
- A guided tour of the sanctuary and its rescued animals
- Cool off in the pool once the heat breaks
- Drinks and snacks from the shop included in the wind-down
- Add a Gamelatron session to round out the night
Day Pass
The Full ImmersionA full day of desert magic.
- The full guided Sanctuary Tour included
- Hot tub and pool access all day
- A Gamelatron Sound Experience session
- A full day of animal encounters and desert bliss
The math works out: the $65 tour and the $65 Gamelatron are included, so the pool, the hot tub, and a full eight hours with the residents come to $35.
Summer days run 10 AM to 6 PM · tour and Gamelatron includedBook a day pass
Gamelatron Sound Experience
Sound CeremonyMeditate to resonant frequencies.
- 15 robotically played gongs in harmonic resonance
- A meditative hour in the Center, a light-filled desert space
- A sonic kinetic sculpture, the Gamelatron Tangan Ke Hati
Every ticket directly funds the rescue and care of our sanctuary animals.
Plan your day
Every experience is 18 and over, with no exceptions. It keeps our free-roaming residents safe. Day passes are individual, so friends who book the same date are on the property together all day. For longer stays, email us or text (760) 418-0921. Planning a group visit or hoping for a private session? Email info@kaleidoscopedesert.com and we will figure it out together. We are a nonprofit, and every visit directly supports animal rescue and care.
Good questions
When do tours run?
In summer the guided Sanctuary Tour runs every day at 10 AM, before the desert heats up. It lasts about 90 minutes and costs $65 per person. Thursday through Saturday there is also the Evening Tour + Swim at 6 PM. Book at kaleidoscopedesert.com/visit.
What is the difference between the tour and the Day Pass?
The tour is the guided 90 minute walk. The Day Pass is the whole day, and in summer it starts promptly at 10 AM with the guided tour and runs to 6 PM, with the Gamelatron Sound Experience, hot tub and pool access, and a full day with the animals and the art. The Evening Tour + Swim sits in between, a 6 PM tour that ends with a swim, drinks, and snacks. If you want the full experience, the Day Pass is the one.
Will I actually see the animals?
Yes. The residents free-roam the property and interact on their own terms, so there is always somebody wandering over to inspect you. Around sunset the whole neighborhood comes out.
Is it really adults only?
Yes, every experience is 18 and over with no exceptions. Our rescued animals roam free, and this keeps them and our guests safe. Anyone under 18 can still be part of it: the Virtual Visit in the store works at any age, and so does the Fairy Godparent Program.
Can I bring my dog?
No outside animals, please. We are a rescue sanctuary and visiting pets stress the residents who live here.
Where exactly are you?
Morongo Valley, California, in the Mojave high desert about 15 minutes from Joshua Tree and 30 minutes from Palm Springs. The exact address comes with your booking confirmation.
Can my friends and I visit together?
Yes. Day passes are individual, so everyone books their own for the same date, and you are all on the property together for the same window. For groups larger than 10, email info@kaleidoscopedesert.com and we will set it up.
What is the cancellation policy?
Tickets are not refundable, but you can reschedule with one week of notice. Email info@kaleidoscopedesert.com and we will move your date. Every ticket directly funds animal rescue either way.
What should I bring and wear?
Bring water. Natural sunscreen is provided on site. There is no dress code, so wear whatever is comfy. Heads up, the goats may nibble.
Are the animals dangerous?
The residents are accustomed to people. Move slowly and let them come to you. The emus are curious and may peck at shiny objects, which is their way of saying hello.
I cannot make the scheduled times. Any other options?
Private tours are available. Email info@kaleidoscopedesert.com and we will find a time that works.
Where does my money go?
We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every visit, tour, and donation directly funds animal rescue, animal care, and the upkeep of the sanctuary.
