Sierra Sky Ranch, a boutique hotel — Hotel in Oakhurst

Looking for a quiet and relaxing country get away from the city that's steeped in history? This is the place! Tucked away up in the mountains right off the 41 and just minutes away from downtown Oakhurst, is this little gem straight out of the old west. Before it was converted to a 28 room hotel, it was one of California's first cattle ranches dating back to 1875. The minute you walk in, you feel as if you've been stepped back in time as you take in the beautiful rustic atmosphere of a handsomely decorated log cabin complete with a actual working fireplace in the lobby that the staff keeps going all through the winter. I was also told by the staff, who by the way are super friendly and make you feel right at home, that the hotel was also at one time, a retreat for military soldiers and a tuberculosis ward at another. It is literally just one of the last few hotels located outside of Yosemite which is a bonus! The southern entrance to Yosemite through Fish Camp is only 20 minutes away from Sky Ranch. Also nearby is another tourist attraction, Bass Lake just 15 minutes away from the hotel. The rooms are cozy and both my husband and I slept like babies! Most comfortable beds ever. They do have a pool that's open only during the summer season. There's even a library that boasts many books and games for kids and families! Love that they have fresh coffee around the clock, plus hot teas and hot chocolate. A free Continental style breakfast is included with your stay.

Another nice surprise was an outside fire place in the front lawn with chairs! You can simply enjoy the fire under the stars and/or roast your own S'mores which the hotel sells and the front desk agent will go and help light the fire for you. Their restaurant the Cowboy Tavern is closed but staff does give you plenty of great recommendations for local dining choices. I was told at the time that they operate the dining room for private parties and events. It too is an impressive venue complete with an actual old time style saloon bar. Considering how much my husband and I enjoyed our time here, we will definitely be bringing our family with...

Stayed last night.. It was beautiful and peaceful. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to get away....

However, a few weird things happened. We heard kids running through the halls at 2am. We were kinda irritated about that. Our bathroom door wouldn’t stay closed. Rob kept saying it was the foundation. This morning, laying in bed drinking coffee, I smelled a very very strong odor of men’s cologne. Rob didn’t smell it. We assumed one of the kids in the next room spilled cologne and it was coming through the walls.

Well, as we were checking out, we were telling the lady how we wanted to come back. We told her about the kids being loud next door and she laughed it off.. then proceeds to tell us a little story about the haunted hotel we just stayed in. We only told her about the loud kids... she even told us there was a book at the checkout desk that people have input their sightings and stories over the years! Built in 1875, it was an R&R place for soldiers during a World War as well as a hospital for children who were dying of Tuberculosis. A nurse named Sara died from TB in room 33 after taking care of two kids who also died from TB in that room. A cowboy ranch hand had also committed suicide near the bunk house(where we stayed) on the premises at one point as well. The lady tells us ... Sometimes the kids who died here run through the halls late at night. We look it up online.. They(ghosts) didn’t like the doors closed, so patrons have complained of doors opening without anyone there. Patrons have described smelling a fragrant smell of men’s cologne randomly with no one wearing any.

So... there’s that.

Look it up online.

We will definitely be going back. Nothing scary happened. It was super cool staying at a place with so much history!!! We highly recommend it. It is a very beautiful place. Staff were very friendly, place was clean and cozy. Food...

Overall it was a good stay, it really is only 15 minutes away from Yosemite South Gate and about 8 mins away from town. The hotel itself is a great location I love the cabin feel to the lobby and all the agents were great. The room was nice but way too small for two beds. The room was the tiniest hotel room I probably have been in but still modern and clean everything worked ...downfall was there was no amenities in the room such as coffee, microwave, robes etc. They have a microwave and coffee in the lobby which is nice but still a downfall for the price. Because of covid I didn’t get to try the restaurant but they did have a very small continental breakfast which was either a muffin an apple and granola. I had read all the reviews before coming and I was so excited to have a little tour and some history about the place along with the stories of ghosts but we didn’t get the so I was a little depressed. One other con was I didn’t get much sleep because the rooms were next to an old creeky hallway in wish you could hear everyone coming in and out all night long, may be a ghost issue but who knows. You can even hear what the guest next to you is talking about there so close and tiny but the beds were so comfy and wonderful I’m sad I didn’t sleep well. Rooms were clean I felt safe touching things durning covid the showers were nice and hot but I did find a pubic hair in the shower which wasn’t hard to simply wear a glove and get a towel and throw it away rest if it was spic and span. Great location, great staff, clean rooms. But too small and noisy and over priced nice deals though...