ABOUT OFLAND
About the proposed resort
Ofland Hospitality represents the kind of glossy, profit-driven development that erodes the character of rural and natural communities under the guise of “eco-luxury.” It commodifies quiet, open landscapes and turns them into playgrounds for affluent tourists.
CURATED WILDLANDS
These developments claim to “celebrate nature,” but in reality, they privatize it—transforming public experience into exclusive, curated amenities for the wealthy. Local water, land, and resources are redirected to support upscale spas and boutique cabins, not the people who actually live here.
Rooted in Extraction
Ofland may tout sustainability for their resort in Twentynine Palms, but their model is rooted in extraction—of culture, land, and identity. Instead of protecting what makes a place unique, they flatten it into a brand. True stewardship comes from communities, not corporations selling curated wilderness at $600 a night. We don’t need more resorts; we need real protections for our environment and our people.
PROTECT THIS GATEWAY TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK FROM AN INVASIVE 100-BUILDING LUXURY RESORT
OFLAND PROMISES JOBS FOR 29
The company’s own hiring practices at its Utah location reveal a seasonal, transient labor model. Its answers to 29 Palms residents about wages and local hiring are deliberately vague.
- At Ofland’s existing Escalante resort, all current job openings are explicitly seasonal. They are recruited through a platform designed for adventure-seeking transient workers, not local employment pipelines.
- When asked directly about wages for the 29 Palms location, Ofland’s FAQ offers only that pay will be “in line with industry standards.” The hospitality sector is notorious for low wages and part-time hours.
- Ofland promotes employee housing as a community benefit. At their Escalante, UT, resort, these units house seasonal workers, not local residents.
- The promise to prioritize local contractors and suppliers is marketing language. It is not a legally enforceable condition of the City’s approval.
OFLAND’S JOB PROMISES DON’T HOLD UP UNDER SCRUTINY
TALKING POINTS
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There was no Environmental Impact Report—only a Mitigated Negative Declaration. That’s not good enough for this important wildlife corridor.
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The City of Twentynine Palms approved the project without significant discussion.
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Residential zoning is for homes, not resorts.
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The parcel is zoned for 60 homes – OfLand is proposing 100 cabins and additional buildings.
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The Ofland parcel will lead to loss of native habitat in an ecologically sensitive wildlife corridor.
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Ofland predicts an increase of 894 vehicle trips PER DAY in our INDIAN COVE neighborhood.
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With outdoor movies, music and special events, the resort will disrupt our natural quiet and night skies.