Escape is a creative retreat situated outside the big city lights. The ranch functions as an outlet for recording artists, photographers, writers and filmmakers - atop 140 acres of high desert with unobstructed views spanning some 40 miles to Palm Springs. The studios are 120 miles from Los Angeles and 200 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Founded in late 2013 by British-born entrepreneur Roc Gardner, Escape harbors 4 creative studios, including state of the art recording equipment and plenty of vintage toys for artists to play with. The property also has accommodation for those that require it with a cozy 2 bedroom cottage named the Casita, another 2 bedroom home named The Residence and a 3 bedroom home named The Lodge inspired by the Amangiri resort in Utah, all available to clients - There are also 3 unique vintage airstreams - and Escape also features an 80's inspired Soho-worthy gathering area affectionately named The G.O.A.T. which you can drop into after visiting the wellness area to rehydrate.
Whilst conveniently located a mile or so from Pioneertown music venue Pappy and Harriets and within driving proximity to international airports (Las Vegas and Los Angeles), Escape maintains complete privacy. Guests can also expect to access local attractions like The Integratron and the Joshua Tree National Park with ease.
Escape has been visited by major publishing song writer camps, artists Usher, The Arctic Monkeys, 5 Seconds of Summer, Peaches, Billy Gibbons, Nero, Rufüs Du Sol, Paolo Nutini, Bob Moses, Jan Blomqvist and MK. Escape connects people from all walks of life. From business leaders to spiritual heads... the sky has never been the limit!
TEAM
Roc Gardner: The Vision Behind Escape
Roc Gardner is the British-born founder of Escape, a California destination where people find the space between the notes to create. From the pulse of major international cities to the stillness of the Mojave Desert, Roc’s journey is about cutting through the noise—crafting a haven where clarity ignites great ideas.
Born in London, Roc was a prodigy at the keys, learning piano at age 4. That early spark fueled a lifelong passion for music, carrying him from childhood melodies to studios like Queen’s and Genesis’s, where he shaped his craft. From there, he stepped into music management, running a record label and building a career across global hubs. A self-made entrepreneur, he launched Sidewalk 7, fusing music and culture, before founding Escape Productions LLC to chase broader visions.
A pivotal moment came when he met the Shinnecock Tribe through the Branson family, sparking a move to New York. There, in 2011, he launched Escape to New York, a three-day, Burning Man-style festival with Patti Smith and 100 DJs, co-produced with Secret Garden Party’s team, staged on tribal lands and drawing thousands. Next came Escape LA, a collaboration with Milk Studios and Rassi Mazdack where Thom Yorke spun beats, followed by Escape to Montauk, with Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes lighting up the coast. These events laid the groundwork for Escape—spaces to step back and see anew.
The desert called when he recorded at Dave Catching’s Rancho de la Luna in Joshua Tree. In 2013, he bought a ranch in Pioneertown, trading city clamor for Mojave calm. Now splitting time between Vegas and this California creative retreat, Roc shapes Escape, having released 60 tracks over the last 15 years. In Venice Beach, he turned a graffitied property into a 17,000-piece tile mural with friends—a vibrant ode to the community, fostering a friendlier vibe. Through Escape for Good, his nationwide charity race, he’s raised tens of thousands for causes that matter. Dubbed “the next Richard Branson” by The Times (UK), Roc Gardner offers Escape as a place to unplug, rethink, and create.
Roc lives between Miami, Las Vegas and the studios with his wife, K, and two golden retrievers, Winston and Inca.
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Escape in California:
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