It's not so much a business as it's a permanent art installation composed of found materials in Wonder Valley by the beloved late artist Cathy Allen. See attached photos from the 'menu' (aka catalog). Ms. Allen taught Fine Arts at Copper Mountain College was involved in local arts organizations throughout the high and low desert. Her work has been displayed in galleries and venues throughout Southern California such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, and Palm Springs. read more

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If the Island of Misfit Toys were actually located in California it would be called Sunvale Village. Along this stretch of dirt road is a unique desert village. You won't find people dwelling here. This is a home for discarded toys, called "smalls." In this roadside "community for the small," abandoned toys gain new lives and identities. Sunvale Village is a community for the small, is an actual place, established in May 2017. Each inhabitant has adopted a new identity and many have changed their name to reflect their new philosophies of life. The site-specific installation of Sunvale Village is a playful commentary on significant contemporary issues such as the environment, gentrification of communities and ownership, and politics. Individual sculptural pieces are assembled with mixed media junk, all materials scavenged from abandoned refuse or illegal dump sites. The characters of Sunvale Village have also been recovered from the desert, toys left behind and are play companions in the ongoing story. As of August 2020, there are over 90 smalls living in the village. And they even have their own fight song: "We, a small community of diverse and little creatures, hereby declare our united stance on the significance of small. Let it be known, though our stature is slight, our concepts and actions are no less important than others. From here on, the small will be considered as having a valuable role within the laws of nature, and vital to nature's continuum". "We, as a small community will celebrate the minutiae, the micro, the humble, and the things often overlooked, ignored or considered less important. We will stand united against the over-inflated, the bombastic, the supersized, and situations that are unfair in disproportional largeness". One of the most bizarre roadsides you may ever find. An A-OK seems to fit them best. Don't go out of your way, but I would say don't drive by either. I added this listing after arriving home, so the locator may be off. read more

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I enjoy random art installations in the desert. I prefer large-scale ones however the point behind Sunvalle Village is to celebrate the small and humble vis-à-vis the super-sized. I appreciate that message and endeavor. In this case, discarded toys and other refuse are utilized to create miniature scenes. Sunvale Village was more organized than I expected. There is a little designated parking area as well as a wooden box containing informational pamphlets and a sign-in sheet. Just make sure you lock it afterward as it gets really windy. The informational pamphlet includes the mission of the installation as well as a map and descriptions of the toys. As far as other destinations in the area go, this one is a bit out of the way. Whether it's worth a stop depends on you. I ended up coming here on my third trip to Joshua Tree (I had already done/seen all the local attractions and curiosities). If you're looking for a more expansive desert art installation, the Noah Purifoy Sculpture Garden fits that description. If you have time to spare and appreciate this sort of thing, this is definitely a quirky addition to your itinerary. If you come here in peak summer heat (like I did), make sure you have water/sunblock. read more

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