The Joshua Tree Retreat Center represents the largest collection anywhere of Lloyd Wright mid-century buildings constructed and aligned with Organic Architecture principles. Embodying the essence of Organic Architecture, the interweaving of civilization and human habitation with the natural world, is at the core of this historical space. 

Originally, Ding Le Mei asked Lloyd Wright’s father Frank Lloyd Wright to design the City of Mentalphysics, incorporating nature’s beauty & principles into the spiritual and architectural vision of a “model city of the world and a true city of brotherly love”.  Frank Lloyd Wright referred the project to his son, Lloyd Wright, who already had an established architectural practice in Los Angeles at the time.

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Preserving this sensitive land and unique architecture is one of our highest priorities at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center.  As we move forward with our restoration plans we are embracing the legacy of Organic Architecture design principles for this beautiful desert refuge.  To work with us to develop the visioning and design process and help us steward an inspired long-term comprehensive strategy, we formed the Whole Arts Auxiliary and have brought on Design Integration Group (“DIG”) to assist us with the restoration of the buildings and the site and updating an ecologically oriented master plan for the entire site.

In 1941 the Mentalphysics Spiritual Teaching and Retreat Center was dedicated in Yucca Valley (now Joshua Tree).  The Center, which is on 400+ acres of pristine desert land is used today not only by students of Mentalphysics, but by many retreat groups seeking a quiet, peaceful place for spiritual contemplation and training.

​The retreats for the Mentalphysics teachings are also held here on this sacred land. Please be sure to visit our many vortices and note that the buildings and other structures are all designed by Ding Le Mei, Frank Lloyd Wright, (and son) Lloyd Wright, using sacred geometry. The energy here is unique and healing.​

Friendship Hall

Sanctuary

Harmony Hall

"Moved by a sense of the tranquil nobility and eternal beauty of the desert, I have planned, not a city of asphalt, paving and steel, or the tight mechanical grid and congested living barracks but a city of the Desert, spacious, free-sweeping; its broad floor carpeted by myriads of desert blossoms; its residents dwelling at peace, and sharing with the soil, sky and trees, their joy of living, its centuries-old Joshua trees standing like sentinels above its homes."
- Edwin J Dingle (Ding Le Mei)