Earthquake Nights at Creosote Cottage

We believe the more you know about earthquakes, the more likely you are to prepare. Also… why not have a good time while learning about earthquakes?

Earthquake Nights at Creosote Cottage is an intimate, hands-on earthquake geology and preparedness experience. You'll learn about southern California tectonics and the San Andreas and other regional faults, then relax with family, friends, or colleagues over smoked foods and beverages while taking in desert sunset vibes and views.

We offer a unique and intimate earthquake information and preparedness experience. Our aim is to increase your earthquake knowledge and readiness, and to make sure you remember what you learned while enjoying your time with us.

An afternoon and evening at Creosote Cottage

Join us at our desert hub @creosote_cottage in Morongo Valley for an afternoon and evening that blends science, safety, and genuine desert hospitality. Situated just half a mile from the Pinto Mountain Fault Zone and two miles from the San Andreas, the cottage is the perfect place to explore southern California tectonics in context.

Your afternoon begins at 3:00 pm with arrival, refreshments, and a relaxed meet-and-greet. A guided workshop then covers regional geology, plate tectonics, fault mechanics, and practical, personalized preparedness strategies, with plenty of time for Q&A tailored to your curiosity and interests.

As the afternoon winds down, enjoy social time while the sun sets over Morongo Valley and Mt. San Jacinto. Dinner is prepared on site by our caterer and features fresh handcrafted foods: smoked tri-tip or chicken, sides, and desserts. A mobile bartender serves signature cocktails and other beverages throughout the evening. Your first two adult beverages are included, and additional drinks are available for purchase directly from the bartender.

Groups range from 10 to 20 guests: lively, but still personal, with plenty of time for conversation and questions.

Upcoming dates: Saturdays, November 21; December 5, 12, and 19; and January 9, 16, 23, and 30

Rate: $350 per person, including the workshop, dinner, and two adult beverages. Rates for events featuring guest speakers may vary.

Booking: Contact robert@earthquakeanswers.com or 562.686.1497 to reserve your spot or for more information. The exact address is provided close to the event date, once your reservation and payment are received.

Coming soon: full-day experiences. We're building toward 10 to 12 hour days that pair the workshop with guided field trips to nearby fault exposures, followed by the evening at the cottage. Ask us to be notified when they're available.

Guest speakers. Future Earthquake Nights will feature guest lecturers: fellow scientists and specialists who are experts in their fields, sharing their work on everything from fault research to emergency preparedness. Watch this page for speakers and dates as they’re announced.

Interested in speaking? We welcome proposals from scientists, engineers, emergency managers, and other experts. Use the form below to tell us a little about yourself and your topic.

Why Earthquake Answers?

I'm Robert Leeper, a geologist and Professor of Geology at Mt. San Antonio College. I spent nearly a decade as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, working alongside Dr. Lucy Jones and Dr. Kate Scharer on the San Andreas and Newport-Inglewood faults to uncover the record of past earthquakes, while also conducting other natural hazards research like post-wildfire debris flows and paleotsunami occurrence. I started Earthquake Answers in 2018 to take that science from the field to the classroom and into people's homes and lives, because the more you know about earthquakes, the more likely you are to prepare.

Why it matters here

Southern California sits on a plate boundary. The Pacific and North American plates grind past each other along the San Andreas Fault system, and that strain builds every year until a fault finally slips and releases it as an earthquake.

This isn't a someday problem. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates a 60% chance of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake in the Los Angeles region in the next 30 years. Out here in the desert, the southern San Andreas hasn't produced a major rupture in more than 300 years, and geologists consider it one of the faults most likely to produce the next big one. Creosote Cottage sits just half a mile from the Pinto Mountain Fault and two miles from the San Andreas, so this is where I live, not just what I teach.

Why prepare?

There are two big reasons.

First, to protect the people you love. In a major earthquake, the first minutes and days matter most. Knowing what to do when the shaking starts, and having water, supplies, and a plan, can make all the difference for your family.

Second, because prepared people make stronger communities. After a large earthquake, emergency services will be stretched thin. Every household that can take care of itself frees up help for those who need it most. History shows that big earthquakes bring people together: neighbors will help neighbors and strangers will help strangers. Being prepared means you can be one of the helpers.

That's what our motto means: Knowledge · Action · Resilience. Understand the hazard, take practical steps, and recover faster together.

Learn it in person

Reading about earthquakes is a good start, but nothing beats seeing it in context. Join me for Earthquake Nights at Creosote Cottage, an afternoon workshop on regional geology, fault behavior, and personalized preparedness, followed by dinner and stargazing in the desert. Learn more and reserve your spot →

Trusted resources

These are the sources I use and recommend.

See what's shaking

• USGS Latest Earthquakes: real-time map of earthquakes worldwide

• MyShake app: free earthquake early warning alerts on your phone, powered by the ShakeAlert system

Get prepared

• Earthquake Country Alliance: the "Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety"

• Great ShakeOut: practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with millions of others each October

Know your home and your risk

• California Earthquake Authority: earthquake insurance information

• Earthquake Brace + Bolt: grants to help retrofit older homes

• MyHazards (Cal OES): look up the hazards at your address