by Lisa Whalen
| September, 5, 2024
Written and Photographed by Lisa Whalen
There’s something special about waking up to a new day comfortably nestled in a cozy tent. And when that tent has indoor plumbing, electricity, and genuinely comfortable beds, the experience becomes even more special. My weekend at Huttopia in Paradise Springs was my first glamping encounter but it will not be my last because I am hooked.
Huttopia Paradise Springs is located in the San Gabriel Mountains inside the Angeles National Forest, 1.5 hours and a world away from Los Angeles. The moment I drove through the gate onto the property I knew I had found someplace special. Even in the June heat there was a constant breeze filtering through the trees, along with a stream gurgling and meandering its way throughout the resort. I immediately felt the stress of traveling evaporate into the mountain air and disappear completely, to be replaced by the anticipation of enjoying my weekend stay at Huttopia. The staff was friendly and welcoming and immediately made my partner and I feel that we would be well cared for throughout our stay, which indeed we were.
The resort itself has an interesting history. Originally founded as a resort by two Hollywood actors in the 1920’s, the bucolic setting has hosted Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Mary Pickford, John Wayne and other celebrities over the years. Most of the original resort buildings are gone, but there is a newly renovated cabin available to rent known as the Chaplin Cabin. It is one of the original buildings, and yes, Charlie Chaplin would stay there when he visited the resort. The interior is absolutely charming and the cabin is surrounded by a number of well stocked trout ponds.
Our tent was a marvel – spacious, airy and tucked away into the hillside. It was powered by a solar battery which also fuels the pump that draws delicious well water into the tents. The power from these batteries even provided us with pleasantly warm showers, which is most definitely an unexpected camping luxury. Of course there is a limit to what these batteries will endure, but I was able to use a straight iron with no issues and able to charge the numerous batteries and devices which my partner and I had brought with us for our stay. There are a number of different tent configurations available for different group sizes. Not all the tents have private baths. The shared bathrooms however are immaculate and nicely appointed. As much as I enjoyed having my own private bath, I wouldn’t hesitate to book a tent with a shared bath.
And now for what I consider to be one of the most important parts of any vacation stay: the bed. I fully expected to be less than comfortable sleeping for the duration of my stay. Camping, after all, is an adventure and some discomfort must always be factored into the experience, but glamping, as it turns out, is quite another matter entirely. What looked like an ordinary metal framed, spine distorting cot turned out to be a bed so comfy that I literally didn’t want to get out of it in the mornings! It was only the sounds of our neighbors coming to life, cooking their breakfasts, and getting ready for the day which finally convinced me to leave our cozy little nest and go forth into the beautiful world by which we were surrounded.
There is a cafe on-site which serves a variety of food items, including yummy wood-fired pizzas, French crepes, and delicious smoothies. My partner loved the burgers and enjoyed more than one during our stay. There’s also a small store which sells coffee and other provisions on site. Larger grocery purchases must be made down in the valley outside of the Angeles Forest, so plan accordingly. Palmdale, one of the closest large municipalities with a variety of shopping centers, is a little over a half-hour away, and the delightful and eclectic Charlie Brown Farms, which has a variety of hot food options, snacks, produce, and memorabilia, is located 20 minutes away from Paradise Springs. All tents come with propane fueled grills, cookware, plates and flatware, as well as large coolers to store food. There are ice packs available in the main lodge area, but if you plan to bring a lot of food, bringing additional packs is recommended as the ones available at the site are generally limited to two per family.
As for activities, there is much to do at Huttopia and within the immediate vicinity, especially for families. There is a large swimming pool with a gorgeous view of the mountains on the property, as well as a common area which has games such as table tennis and air hockey, a lovely outdoor seating area, hammocks, play structures and a large net for volleyball games. The stream itself was a source of fun and fascination for the children who were visiting, and it was a joy seeing them exploring and appreciating nature.
Of note is the fact that cell reception is extremely limited in the campsite. The cafe area and certain specific Starlink sites provide the only signal availability, but the tents themselves have none. At first, I was rather put off (and, I hate to admit it, a bit panicked) at the idea of having no cell reception in our tent, but when I noticed my partner reading an actual book (in lieu of social media immersion), and heard our neighbors playing board games with their families, I realized the value of NOT having 24/7 access to the outside world and slowly started to embrace the experience. What, at first felt like a deficit, I came to realize is part of the value that the Huttopia experience delivers. In fact, we talked to the parents of a family of four children who had driven out to Huttopia from Los Angeles for their third visit because they simply love being able to transport their family into an environment which offers a slower, more distraction-free pace of life along with the myriad of opportunities for everyone to relax and enjoy their time together as a family. There are also s’mores nights, movie nights, and craft classes in which kids (and adults!) of all ages can enjoy creating art using materials the forest provides.
Since Huttopia is located directly inside Angeles Forest there are also hiking trails right outside of the campsite, and a larger stream nearby where many people set up camp for the day to relax and explore. Further down in the valley, there is more to discover, including numerous off-roading opportunities, and a natural landscape which I just love. (I have this thing for Joshua trees and they are all over the place. In fact there seem to be almost as many Joshua trees in the Antelope Valley area as there are in Joshua Tree Park). My partner and I enjoyed just driving around and checking out the valley itself in addition to off-roading and hiking within the national forest.
Even though Huttopia is a glamping experience, it is still a campsite. This means you must be aware of the fact that you will be sharing your little corner of Paradise Springs in close proximity to the local wildlife, and this includes bears. There are simple rules which need to be followed (storing your food in the appropriate lockers, etc.) in order to assure that you will not be experiencing any unpleasant up-close and personal encounters with hungry and determined forest residents. The staff at Huttopia take the safety of their guests seriously, and there are even stations where you can contact a staff member 24/7 if necessary. One of things which impressed me most about Huttopia was the dedication on the part of every staff member to provide their guests with a safe and truly enjoyable experience, and the pride they took in being able to do so.
Huttopia is a French company, and they have campsites all over France and Europe in addition to the US, which attracts a variety of international travelers. I personally loved hearing the variety of different languages spoken by the various travelers who had found their way to Huttopia. This speaks to me of the nature of travel – people from many different countries and walks of life gathered together within the common experience of learning and exploring more of what this incredible little planet of ours has to offer. And Huttopia has so much to offer. The blend of luxury and nature created a unique escape in which we could immerse ourselves in the rugged beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains while still benefiting from modern comforts, and I, for one, find that blend to be irresistible. Huttopia has set a new standard for outdoor experiences and my partner and I are eagerly looking forward to our next camping adventure.
Huttopia Paradise Springs
18101 Paradise Drive
Valyermo, CA 93563
huttopia.com/en/site/paradise-springs