OAKHURST — Sierra Sky Ranch, the venerable Oakhurst hotel that sits right at one of the entrances to the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway on Road 632 (Sky Ranch Road), has new life, new management and a new vision. Still, it intends to keep with old traditions the property has always embodied, after being acquired by the Green Door Hospitality Group.
Among them the partners at Green Door Hospitality have over 65 years of combined experience in hotel management and development. For them it’s always been about the people, whether creating adventures and experiences for their guests, or helping staff, AKA Green Door’s “family,” to live better lives. Green Door Hospitality is a small family-owned company. They approach every project with a unique and focused perspective on integrating within the local community, and a long-term vision of trying to make things better than they found them. This vision has guided Green Door well over the years.
Matt Kou, one of the principals of Green Door Hospitality Group, says, “I grew up around the hospitality industry and was always inspired by the idea of hosting people, whether it was helping my mom make dinner for guests or taking the lead on organizing trips and get-togethers with friends.”
“One of my family’s favorite yearly vacations was Yosemite. I remember the first time seeing the giant sequoias as a little kid, and I thought they were ladders to the sky! To me Yosemite represents Americana and the true wonders of our natural resources, especially here in California. We spent months and months looking for the perfect property to invest in and got lucky by finding Sierra Sky Ranch and what was known as Paradise Springs that we believe with a little TLC can add a lot of value to the surrounding communities and people that we serve.”
Goals for Sierra Sky Ranch
When asked about their goals for Sierra Sky Ranch, Matt says, “We were enamored by the property’s rich history, dating back to 1875, as one of the state’s largest working cattle ranches. As guests enter our ranch house hotel lobby through what is the original door from 1875, they’re transported to a time that you simply can not replicate today. Our goal is to not only preserve that history, but to dig out 150 years of American history and tradition and be responsible for honoring the storytelling behind our project.
“In the immediate future, Green Door Hospitality plans to add experiential programming for our guests by partnering with and supporting local vendors as everyone crawls out of the economic impacts of COVID. They seek the best partners to help host a range of activities like fly-fishing, horseback riding, guided Yosemite tours and 4×4 adventures.”
Restaurant Plans to Reopen with Year-Round Service
In the near-term future, Green Door Hospitality Group plans to reopen the onsite restaurant year-round to provide a place where both locals and out of towners can gather and break bread together. The restaurant space boasts a beautiful rustic lodge-like ambiance. Guests will be able to sit anywhere except the reserved barstool for our resident cowboy ghost who lives on property and enjoys a beer every now and then.
Recently hired Executive Chef Brandon Bollenbacher is already sketching out menu ideas. Sierra Sky Ranch and Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce collaborated on a community mixer on Thursday, March 17, where he treated guests to house-made hors d’oeuvre to rave reviews.
Chef Brandon is originally from the Central Valley and returns home after creating amazing dishes at luxurious properties around the world from Hawaii to Southeast Asia. His global influences add a unique yet approachable food and beverage destination to the property as he leads the culinary team.
No official opening date for the restaurant has been announced, but management’s goal is to make it as soon as possible.
Sierra Sky Ranch has been a fixture in the Oakhurst area for generations, and the community welcomes its return to full glory.
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Photos courtesy of Sierra Sky Ranch.
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