(Pictured from left to right: Ben, Tom, Dan, Paul, Tim, and Phil Manthei. Photo: Sky Valley Resort)
Warmth is the Secret Recipe at Sky Valley RV Resort
Whether you are seeking a Southwest road trip, pining to snowbird far away from winter’s chill, or considering permanent or semi-permanent digs in the land of the sun, Sky Valley Resort in California’s Coachella Valley has something to offer. Bring your RV to the resort, try a vacation rental , or buy a resort home .The resort’s home base is just 25 minutes from famed Palm Springs and is an outdoor lover's dream known for nearly 300 days of sunshine each year. Rachelle Manthei, part of the marketing team at Sky Valley, noted the resort takes full advantage of their location, “There are lots of ways to get outside. Our activities are increasingly focused on the outdoors.”
To get outside and stay active, you have a variety of options at the resort. Take a walk on over seven miles of trails starting in the Wild West Wash where you can spot a bronze Pioneer Pete and his stagecoach or enjoy socializing in the outdoor fire pit area. If you like playing sports, grab your pickleball or tennis racket and head out for a friendly game. For low impact options, take a few laps in one of the mineral pools or play a game of water volleyball with the other guests.
Water volleyball is one of the many outdoor activities at Sky Valley Resort. (Photo: Sky Valley Resort)
Sky Valley Resort has a picture-perfect desert setting. (Photo: Sky Valley Resort)
Ms. Manthei is part of the current generation of family that owns and operates the resort. “We’re a true family business!” she proudly said. Their story began two generations ago in the 1950s when her grandfather Ted relocated to California to escape Michigan winters. He purchased the land where the resort now sits thinking it would be a good candidate for geothermal energy. While the geothermal idea didn’t pan out, the land was perfect for building a resort featuring hot mineral pools. In 1970, her grandmother Mary sold the land to her son Tim (Rachelle’s father) to build the first mineral pools and the starting 56 spaces. Over the next 26 years, the rest of the resort was constructed as was a nearby 55 & better resort, Caliente Springs.
Today, some 60 years after her grandfather acquired the land, yet another generation of immediate and extended family carries the torch. And they consider their guests part of that family. “We’re all about building community,” Manthei said, adding, “People visit us because we’re a community-focused resort where they can get to know people and make new friends.”
Being close-knit doesn’t mean small-scale. Sky Valley Resort boasts hundreds of spaces spread among a combination of RVs sites, manufactured homes, and park models available for rent or sale. There are an impressive 13 mineral pools and spas fed from deep aquifers originating from snow runoff from nearby Mount San Gorgonio. Sweat in the fitness and cardio rooms or get outside to swim, play tennis, bocce ball, pickleball or explore the desert on a nearby hiking trail. A full social calendar means lots of clubs and activities, ranging from painting classes and fitness events to mental & physical health classes to just soaking in one of the spas.
This is just one of the 13 hot and cold mineral pools at the resort. (Photo: Sky Valley Resort)
One of Sky Valley’s Casita park models bathed in the desert sunset. (Photo: Sky Valley Resort)
In addition to spas, Sky Valley Resort also features mineral swimming pools. (Photo: Sky Valley Resort)
Sky Valley’s location is a natural allure. Sunny days and starry nights beckon. “We’re in the north near Joshua Tree,” Manthei said. “It’s kind of a cool location that’s a bit in the country. Guests can see the stars at night, see the mountains, and enjoy sunsets.” The Coachella Valley is also famous for golf, sporting nearly 100 courses. Sky Valley’s sister resort Caliente Springs even has its own nine-hole, par-three course.
When you’ve had your fill of the great outdoors, head to one of the nine cities that make up the Coachella Valley/Greater Palm Springs. You’ll find an endless array of dining, shopping, and cultural activities - and even more outdoor fun – all within a short drive. Don’t miss the highlights below.
Palm Springs
The jet-set city of Palm Springs is just 25 minutes away. Famed as the country’s epicenter of mid-century modern architecture, nearly every street is a photo opportunity. You can see it all each February during Modernism week - or take in the retro Polynesian-themed Tiki Caliente festival each May
The mid-century modern visitors center in Palm Springs is a centerpiece to the city’s hundreds of modernist residential and commercial buildings (Photo: Wikimedia Commons).
Sky Valley’s back yard is near the breathtaking Joshua Tree National Park. (photo: Don Graham, Creative Commons/Flickr)
Palm Desert
Shopping, recreation, and entertainment are the draws of upscale Palm Desert. Shop the El Paseo Shopping District, with its tree-lined streets, public art displays, and boutique shopping. Then head to the Palm Springs Art Museum and its sculpture gardens or the Living Desert Zoo and Garden, voted in the top 1% of all attractions in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.
29 Palms and Joshua Tree
Scenic desert drives traverse the area between the town of 29 Palms and Joshua Tree National Park. The park attracts day-trippers, campers, hikers, and climbers to its expanses of namesake trees, trails, arroyos, and rock formations.
Indian Wells
Named for the wells hand-dug by Cahuilla Indians, today’s Indian Wells is best known for its tennis. Nicknamed “Tennis Paradise,” it’s home to the famed BNP Paribas Open, the largest combined men's and women's tennis tournament in the world. The courts are also used in the National Pickleball Championship tournament.
Staying at Sky Valley Resort
RV travelers have access to 134 sites at Sky Valley Resort, ranging from back-in sites to seven larger pull-throughs (with 18 more pull-through sites in the works) that sport amenities like landscaping and a table with chairs.
Park models are available for sale and for rent in their pioneering “tiny home community”. The tiny home idea emanated out of the minimalist movement that values experiences over materialism and things. Sky Valley Resort’s location fosters that lifestyle perfectly. These 400-800-square-foot units house life’s essentials, while emphasizing the world outside. One model, the Courtyard even showcases an optional 400-square foot landscaped courtyard that accentuates outdoor living. If you would like to “test drive” a tiny home, you can book a 3-day, 2-night Discovery Stay at the resort.
For more information:
760-656-6033