The Volkswagon bus sputtered to a stop. The year was 1978. Annie and her boyfriend Andy were heading to Canada for greener pastures, eh.
She was excited to see Yosemite, the redwoods and Tahoe. This wasn’t any of those places. This was the Mojave Desert.
“Andy, what is this place, babe?”
“Tecopa, it’s an oasis. My dad lives here. We’re gonna spend the night. C’mon.”
This is when she discovered this geothermic gem. That was the night she truly saw the stars. The stark beauty of the surrounding desert, the expansive sky and the soothing sounds of nature create a holistic experience that nourishes the spirit and still feeds Annie’s soul today.
Tecopa is a great starting point for exploring the serene and surreal beauty of southeastern Death Valley. From here, you could head out to Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course, Artists Palette, Golden Canyon, have lunch in Furnace Creek, pass by Death Valley Junction, the Amargosa Opera House and Shoshone Museum before getting back to the Cabanas for a well-deserved mineral water soak.
Annie reflected, “I’ve done a lot of different kinds of work in my life, traveled the world, and I’ve always wanted to do this, to help people. Always thought if I had my little place, an inn, here’s what I would do, and now I’m doing it. I feel excited, blessed and honored to be here helping folks.”
Annie is the newest player on the Tecopa scene with her business venture, Tecopa Cabanas. She welcomed me for a tour of both accommodations, beginning with Cabana No. 1. Perfect for couples traveling to Death Valley, it is completely remodeled with new beds, new appliances, new television, and more. The couple’s cabana is one-bedroom, half-bath with full kitchen that sleeps two comfortably.
Cabana No. 2 is also newly painted and decorated. With three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, it sleeps six, which is a rarity among Tecopa resorts.
Additionally, both cabanas include free coffee, Starlink WiFi, outdoor barbecue with briquettes, and one gallon of fresh water in each guest refrigerator, with lavish surprises like lavender bathing and sleep products.
A personalized touch to these suites are the Death Valley desert photographs decorating the walls, pictures which Annie took. Stunning shots. I asked to take a picture of Annie for this article and she declined the offer saying, “This isn’t about me, it’s about my guests.”
Over a million people find their way to Death Valley yearly. If you’re one of them or you want to get away for a weekend, visit Annie. The Tecopa Cabanas are located at 100 Noonday Road in Tecopa, Calif. For more information or to make a reservation, text Annie 702-308-2209 or email her at tecopacabanas@gmail.com.
Eric Coleman is a freelance reporter living in Pahrump whose political cartoons appear weekly in the Pahrump and Tonopah newspapers. Contact him at ericjamescoleman@gmail.com.