When she was 30 years old, Karen Rathburn’s father gifted her a remote piece of land in Lone Pine, California—located between the Sequoia and Death Valley National Parks. The rocky acreage was once part of the Merrell-Wolff Ranch, founded back in the 1900s by the transcendental mystic Franklin Merrell-Wolff. Rathburn’s dad and his wife had been caretakers of the ranch, and Merrell-Wolff gave them land as thanks for their work.

Karen later married Gary, and her father soon suggested that they build a home on the Lone Pine site. A general contractor and carpenter, Gary was well versed in homebuilding, having worked on acclaimed projects including Richard Neutra’s Levit House in Brentwood. The Rathburns brought in architect Linda Taalman help them design the residence.

Taalman is known for her prefab, off-grid homes that pair durable industrial materials like glass and steel with sustainable features and a distinctly desert-minimalist aesthetic. Those hallmarks are all present in the Lone Pine abode, which took four years to complete before finishing construction in 2020. While the home itself spans a relatively modest 1,400 square feet, it sits on 2.4 acres surrounded by U.S. Forest Service, Department of Water and Power, and Bureau of Land Management land—ensuring the sweeping mountain views remain protected for generations to come.

RELATED: An Off-Grid Home Near Joshua Tree That Runs on Solar and Wind Power Lists for $15 Million

The great room combines a fireplace-warmed living area with a cozy dining space, while the kitchen sits at the center, anchored by a striking 16-foot black granite island. Wooden cabinetry and all-electric appliances are enlivened by a glossy turquoise backsplash—one of the home’s few bold pops of color. Wrapped in sliding walls of glass, the space opens onto a west-facing deck that steps down to a fire pit.

Beyond the dining area is a southeast-facing sunroom, an ideal space for tapping into the Merrell-Wolff roots of the property with morning meditations or yoga. There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms, one with a soaking tub.

The detached three-car garage can, of course, be used to park vehicles. But with an additional 1,000 square feet of space, it could pull double duty as a creative studio, fitness center, or workshop. And as an off-grid home, it’s equipped with solar panels, a propane generator, a wood-burning stove, a water reserve tank, and more. Jeremy Steenblik and Nate Cole of Modern California House hold the $1.7 million listing.

Click here to see all the photos of the off-grid California residence.