Imagine a place where Silicon Valley’s elite ditch their sleek minimalist homes for a taxidermy-filled, artifact-packed compound that looks like Indiana Jones’ fever dream. Welcome to Hacienda Aguajito, the most unexpected tech retreat you never knew existed.

Nestled in the scenic coastal town of Carmel, this 23-acre wonderland belongs to Peterson Conway VII, a 79-year-old former antiques dealer with stories wilder than your average LinkedIn profile. Think less startup networking, more global adventure mixed with a touch of controlled chaos.

The Ultimate Tech Playground

This isn’t your standard tech bro hangout. We’re talking about a place where Palantir executives like Shyam Sankar hold weddings, and billionaires like Joe Lonsdale throw birthday parties surrounded by 17th-century temple ruins and elephant guns. The vibe? Less Burning Man, more eccentric explorer’s club.

Adventures in Artifact Collecting

Conway’s collection reads like a museum curator’s wildest dream. Wooden palace ceiling panels from an Indian Maharaja’s zenana? Check. A propeller from his pilot son’s plane? Absolutely. A plastic skeleton casually smoking a cigar? Why not. It’s basically a physical manifestation of tech culture’s obsession with the extraordinary.

More Than Just a Hangout

Beyond the quirky decor, Hacienda Aguajito has become a spiritual sanctuary for a new generation of founders. AI entrepreneurs debate the future of technology while sweating in a homemade sauna, surrounded by artifacts that whisper tales of global adventures.

In a world of sterile tech campuses, this compound proves that sometimes, the most innovative spaces look nothing like what you’d expect.