How did El Chorro become such an iconic destination? A big-hearted, pioneering husband and wife bought the lodge in 1937 and it was their legendary love, iconic friends, and welcoming spirit that breathed lasting life into this little corner of the desert.

Nearly a century later and still as iconic as ever — El Chorro draws in those hungry for something a little less ordinary.

The fact that Mark & Jan Gruber, two icons in their own right, found each other at all is something of a small miracle. That their bond went on to transform a desert watering hole into an oasis of culture, conviviality, and companionship is nothing short of legendary.