Redwood Ranch with Sweeping View

Stayed for 2 nights and had 2 king sized air mattresses which were comfortable, the only thing I'd recommend is having warm blankets or sleeping bags as the night is cooler than the day, as for myself personally it didn't bother me but for the rest of the fam it was colder for them. Otherwise great site to stay at as they have farm animals too, the rooster may wake you up if your a light sleeper but wasn't too bad and bunnies running around the area.

Alex A.

7 reviews

Mixed feelings

· July 2024

Tent · With pets ·

We had a good experience. There was some confusion on where to set up camp until the host came out. The sites could all use a picnic table. The animal experience was really cute. The view in the morning was just amazing.

Tommy F.

3 reviews

Mixed feelings

· July 2024

Venue good, Hipcamp are spammers.

Tent ·

I did not give a low rating, There were only minor issues, we enjoyed our overnight at this location, the hosts were gracious and accommodated our selection of camping spots. There was less privacy than we prefer for camping, the setup is to have sites around a common field and there was a minor issue with lights on buildings which come on from motion detectors at night. However, Hipcamp has a totally screwed up rating system and a spamming followup that sends these emails every day. You can only choose Yes, Maybe, No on whether one would recommend this venue. Then they identify a Maybe as a 'low rating'. I do not want to give a low rating for minor issues, but not a perfect rating implied by a 'Yes'. Then if you try to exit the their self-serving rating system (which biases answers to the perfect, more sales for them) then they spam you daily with reminders. So for this venue, I do recommend it with some minor caveats. For Hipcamp, I give a resounding 'No' about using them again, I cannot trust their rating system because they pressure answers biased to make all their properties perfect, and will spam you every day if you don't want to play their game. They'll probably delete this review, I am sending a copy to them and they are unlikely to publish this accurate review of THEM.

Steven G.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2024

Pleasantly Surprised

Tent ·

I was hesitant to book after reading the reviews, but was pleasantly surprised upon arrival. It IS hard to find and you need to follow the directions in the tincture they will send you, I would not try to find it in the dark. It’s a good location to day trip to both Monterrey and Santa Cruz from (which is what we did). I didnt ask about the extra activities you can book on the website so can’t speak to that. They definitely heard the initial feedback on the porta potty which was clean with many rolls of toilet paper and hand sanitizer while we were there. Beautiful location and quirky charming site to day trip out of.

Michael D.

1 year on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· July 2024

Not private-Weird bathroom -Dirty

Overpriced. Rented the 1B/1B The place was not clean: furniture was filthy, dead flies in the windows, floor had a thick layer of dirt, and there was someone else's food in the fridge. Toilet situation was odd as you're instructed to not flush your toilet paper. The propane we paid for was not provided. Animals were not hungry and didn't look well and the employees were not aware of the option to buy feed to feed the animals. No screen on back door. Television didn't work properly and internet was spotty. Trampoline and tents right outside the door made the place feel less private. Range hood filters into kitchen so place can get smoky. Back porch not private, people entered at night without warning which made us nervous.

Maxwell B.

11 months on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· June 2024

Quiet, shaded but not ideal

Tent · With kids ·

Porta potty was filled to the top, and couldn’t use Owners were not onsite, just working crew We paid for “feeding the animals” but no one was there to provide activity, lost out on that money Kiddo liked the trampoline. Quiet/ shaded but wouldn’t have been private if there were other people camping next to us.

Kaysie N.

2 reviews

Mixed feelings

· June 2024

Tons of space, but not the best

Tent · With kids ·

Porta potty was gross. Filled to the top. We paid for a “feeding” experience but didn’t have service to get in contact with anyone until we left… owner was not onsite, and the workers had no clue Overall, spot was ok for us. Big, open, shady space, but not private, if someone camps the same night as you. We were lucky, and had no one else camping next to us. The kiddo enjoyed the trampoline.

Phillip C.

3 reviews

Mixed feelings

· June 2024

Trespassing Vibes

Tent · With kids ·

This campsite isn’t as advertised. The location is beautiful and it has a lot of potential, but it almost felt like the campsite wasn’t really prepared for visitors. There were no welcoming instructions or anybody to welcome us. Porter potty had not been cleaned in months, we had no idea where the campsites were supposed to be, so just pitched our tent on the grass. The gas bbq that was in the pictures didn’t work, which meant we had a pretty sad, cold dinner. No fires allowed in the fire pit, so that was a bit of a bummer as well. There was a maintenance worker who was very friendly and helped us out with a couple of necessities luckily. We booked 2 nights, but only ended up staying one. Just not the atmosphere we were looking for. Pretty disappointing. Camping here felt a bit like trespassing. I wouldn’t go back.

Natalie C.

2 reviews

Mixed feelings

· May 2024

Good Experience but ...

Tent ·

The campsite feels secure but less private due to adjacent campsites. The campsite assistant is very friendly and does his best to make us feel comfortable. The animal farm and farm raised eggs are a must try. Wifi is satellite based, so expect to have interruptions during windy or cloudy days. Definitely no mobile network. However, the host needs to ensure that portable toilet is regularly serviced as it was in an undesirable state. QUIET HOURS need to be enforced due to some guests loud conversations past midnight. Campsite 1 and 3 are preferred overall due to shade and ground.

Vikram Aditya K.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2024

Weekend stay!

Group trip ·

Had an amazing time! The owner was very communicative about not just the directions to get there, but making sure that the activities(archery and visiting the farm animals) went very well! Was very much given a free reign of the property while there and was able to enjoy our visit peacefully while taking in the lovely scenery. There was very minimal light as well so being able to star gaze was amazing and definitely recommend anyone who stays to stay up late to enjoy the view! Overall had an amazing time and intend on booking the property again in the future!

Ash C.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2024

Great for groups of various sizes!

Well off the beaten path, and nestled in the trees along a creek, this is a great option for groups especially. We ended up staying in the cabins, both the 2 bedroom - very simple, no frills, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom, no common seating area inside. But there’s a hot plate, microwave and mini fridge, as well as a great deck to sit by the creek. We also stayed in the 1 bedroom which has a full kitchen, “fireplace”-heater, washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc. this unit has modern furniture and neat features like barn doors, and a large covered front porch where we sat and watched the rain pouring down. Those units share a thin common wall, so keep that in mind. I’m not sure of the origin story of the property, but there are some quirky design elements/choices that will make you wonder as well. There is a very large grassy area where I loved running around and playing with my dog. It could use a good deep clean, but overall it’s would definitely recommend this place for groups especially.

Aimie M.

11 reviews

Recommends

· February 2024

Tent ·

Serene Retreat in a RV in Redwood

I would definitely come back again! Joe and Pearl were so friendly and kind to us. We had a great time and felt so safe. We even go to pet a very sweet bunny. Overall, would come again if we’re in the area!

Piumi Y.

2 reviews

Not recommend

· November 2023

What a missed opportunity.

With kids ·

There was such potential for this one! It's a beautiful drive down a redwood-lined lane and is in convenient proximity to Gilroy Gardens and Monterey. Nonetheless, it's apparent that the owner does not live on site and that maintenance and customer service are not a priority. Some of the big misses: 1. After multiple conversations with the owner regarding renting both one of the cabin units as well as the trailer, he never once mentioned that the plumbing to the trailer was not connected and therefore not useable. No sink, no toilet, no shower. He only mentioned this to us AFTER we had paid. That's pretty shady. 2. When we arrived - there was a beeping alarm coming from the trailer, the source of which took his on-site manager (who was LOVELY) over an hour to locate. This meant that we could not use the trailer while the problem was being assessed -which meant by the time he had "solved" it, it was pitch black outside. 3. The "solve" left the entire trailer without electricity. Again - it's clear this was a problem the owner knew about because AFTER booking and paying, he mentioned the electricity isn't great and to limit multiple appliances or fixtures being used at the same time. WE COULD NOT USE ANY because there was no power at all. 4. Ultimately, the kind on-site manager had to jerry-rig an extension cord out to the trailer to plug a space heater in, which ultimately ALSO blew - so we slept in a freezing trailer with no power and no plumbing. Unacceptable.

Janelle E.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2023

Fun weekend with kids

With kids ·

We had a great time at the Ranch. My 2 kids loved the open space, trampoline, swing etc. There favorite part was animal petting. Joe is a very nice owner and very responsive. Would definitely would recommend and come again.

Amul D.

1 year on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· July 2023

Private but Dissatisfied

Tent · With kids ·

This is spot is absolutely stunning and could be amazing. It’s peaceful, private, and remote. The location is also close to Gilroy Gardens and 40 mins from the beach. I hope the host improves. However, what was thought we purchased and what we got were vastly different. We arrived and didn’t have a clear idea of which spot was ours. The site contained multiple bags of trash from the previous person. The table provided was covered in food etc. The Port A Potty hadn’t been serviced in over a month. The listing said we’d be greeted when we arrived which didn’t happen. At one point the host even drove the opposite direction instead of coming over to say hello. Overall we still had a nice trip but won’t be back.

Kyle G.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2023

Tent · With kids ·

It wasn’t quite as advertised (wish the petting zoo was as described and wish there were more picnic tables/chairs) but the trampoline was a hit with the toddlers and there was no one around but our party, so it was a great starting spot for new campers

Kate E.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2023

Tent · Group trip ·

Nice tent camping, beautiful scenery, good grills and lots of open space.

Joshua E.

2 years on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· June 2023

Tent · With kids ·

They really need to install a decent restroom for actual rates 😵.

Leon C.

2 years on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· May 2023

Sleep in front yard + fraud

Tent · Group trip ·

The site is a large lot covered with grass and gravel adjacent to what might be a farm and what is definitely a house. You will see the residents of the house as they go about their day. They were nice people but I thought it was weird to be camping in their front lawn and kind of regretted the whole venture. We paid by venmo for $160 for activities. The man who lived in the house seemed a bit confused by the whole thing and said he wasn't sure if there were supplies. We felt ripped off and the camp host didn't respond to questions about this once we left. There was no cellular service available so we couldn't inquire further while on the property. The owner has not been responsive after our visit (he was very chatty when getting the money by venmo) and Hipcamp support is investigating. The nearby county park was nice and would be a better spot to camp. It wasn't interesting enough to warrant a visit, although we did do a hike there. The highlight of the area is the wineries. I could see myself staying at this site one night after visiting the wineries. You really don't want to be on this site during the day due to privacy issues with the house and a lack of shade over the gravel-covered grass lot. There was plenty of room for parking and setting up tents. Be aware that the fee covers a single tent and single car.

Aron B.

3 reviews

Mixed feelings

· May 2023

Tent · With pets ·

Echoing the same sentiment as the other reviewer that it feels more like someone's front-yard than a proper campsite. It is a cool location but the ranch is in a carved out area so you are more "next to a forest" than "inside a forest". I found the amenities to be lackluster. Just a few examples. One, no running water. Two, there is only one fire pit. Three, over 10 people at our stay all shared one portable potty. There was also a lack of privacy. There was no marking of sites and nothing to separate the groups. It was a wide open area, so you could see and hear everyone else. The neighboring group was talking loudly past midnight and I wish quiet hour was enforced. It has potential to be a good campsite but frankly it is not there yet. If you want to experience camping in a redwood forest, I recommend checking out the nearby big basin redwoods state park once its camps reopen.

Tom L.

3 years on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· May 2023

Over priced front yard camping.

Tent · With pets ·

I knew this was camping on someone’s property, but the webpage still made it seem like you were gonna pop your tents up in a nice forest and get that camping vibe. But this really was just camping in someone’s front yard. The gravel patch where you hang out and make your tents is full of hay and Goat poop all over the ground and the smell was pretty bothersome. They also advertise as having water but currently it’s undrinkable and the owner didn’t mention this. The price for this is just absolutely ridiculous. Maybe for $30 a night this would be worth it. The camp host at least was nice I think all the problems are on the owners end.

Macall H.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2023

Off the Grid Retreat

With kids ·

We enjoyed our "off the grid" stay in this newly updated cabin. I especially loved how family-friendly this place was! My boys spent their afternoon and into the evening jumping on the trampoline, exploring the grounds, and climbing. I was pleasantly surprised at how spacious the cabin was. We were able to blow up two air mattresses for the boys to sleep on as we listened to the pitter-patter of the rain coming down.

Rosalie Y.

10 reviews

Recommends

· March 2023

Tent ·

The property was very clean and we really enjoyed the animals. Our host, Sean, spent time with us on a hike and around the campfire. Great location to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area, yet a stone throw away. Highly recommended although the price for camping is on the high end.

Dylan M.

3 years on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· January 2023

Not worth the $$ at the moment

With pets ·

There was a flooded yurt on the property amd the 6 people from that unit had to sleep in my units floor with me for one night. There is absaloutly no wifi here, the stove did not at times work it sometimes went off and on. The washer and dryer did not work the TV did not work and the worst of it was on my last day the water stopped working no water from the sinks or tub. Honestly this place would be so wonderful if some things were just updated I felt bad for the animals on the property during the rain with no heat but that I suppose is not part of it Sean the grounds keeper was extremely friendly and very helpful amd tried his best to quickly help whenever things broke down or stopped but too any issues on this land and when the water stopped and the people had to sleep with us that's where we just about had it.

Jasmine G.

5 reviews

Recommends

· November 2022

Group trip ·

We loved camping on Joe’s land! The directions given were super detailed so we never got lost finding it. The tent was way bigger than expected, the bed was comfy, and the lantern in the tent provided plenty of light. We appreciated the help with the extension cord because we were able to watch a movie on our projector and use a heating blanket to keep warm through the night. It was also so fun petting the animals and waking up to birds and chickens around the property. My pup also loved running around and exploring the hills around the tent. Would highly recommend staying here and we hope to be back again soon. Oh and the night sky was GORGEOUS! So many stars ⭐️💫

Christina R.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2022

With kids ·

My family stayed at Joe's place while we were on a road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle. We chose his space because we have small children, it was winter time, and we wanted to experience nature without freezing to death. The comfort of being in a home with various amenities, while also being in a remote location in nature seemed like the best of both worlds. We were also lured in by the farm animals and countless activities listed on the site. This HipCamp felt very much like a vacation rental. We loved the home and the land. The house was well stocked with a variety of food options, which was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. The bed was cozy, there was warm water, and plenty of dishes for cooking. We truly had everything we needed. One down side was that there was no heat. It was FREEZING. We turned on the stove to warm up the place, that that didn't work well (it's an electric stove). Fortunately, the onside host, Sean, was gracious enough to offer us his space heater, which worked well to heat up the sleeping area. The other down side was getting there. I do not recommend arriving after dark if you haven't been before. Although we followed the directions that were provided, we ended up getting lost and off roading on a very dark and treacherous road called Mt. Madonna. I thought we were going to die (thank God we made it!). Overall, the hosts were great (Sean is the best!), and our children loved the space. Just needs some heat and better guidance arriving.

La Mikia C.

2 reviews

Recommends

· October 2022

Neat rental with lots of potential

With pets ·

Our stay had a chaotic start. Joe asked the day before if we could be there by 5 pm, so we altered our trip. We arrived to a locked gate at 3 pm. We drove 15 miles to town to get signal to call Joe. The person answering didn't know him. This caused us to panic and believe we'd been scammed. However, Joe did call back and said he'd meet us there at 5 pm. He let us in and showed us around. But we spent two hours highly-stressed. He said someone else usually deals with the rentals. He seemed baffled by the state of the cabin, with the bed unmade, trash cans full, and dishes not put away. He spent the night in the adjoining cabin (it's a duplex), but was gone the next night. We weren't given a key and felt uneasy leaving our belongings unsecured when we went to town, but we were assured that no one ever goes up there. The gate was unlocked, also. The cabin is comfy, but the kitchen and bathroom need more lighting. All toilet paper must go in a trash can, which was icky. The bed was comfy, and the shower had plenty of hot water. The kitchen was well-stocked. We appreciated that it was pet-friendly and easy to clean. The Wi-Fi worked well. We had zero Verizon signal. It's a beautiful place. We loved the back porch with table and chairs. There were goats and chickens nearby and a nice trail to walk up the hill, past the yurt also for rent. It seems they're new at this, but there's a lot of potential. Self-check-in and a reworked septic system could make it five stars.

Fred S.

11 reviews

Recommends

· October 2022

With pets ·

The house was surrounded by beautiful redwoods. Kids loved the trampoline and hammock. My dogs enjoyed gated area on the back porch. Sean was very friendly and nice.

Yenari C.

2 years on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· September 2022

Great spot for family getaway

With pets ·

My family spent the last weekend glamping here and overall we enjoyed our stay. The highlight of the visit was the onsite caretaker who was very hospitable and attended to all of our needs. The location of this property is nicely tucked away in the redwoods and definitely gave us a feeling of being off-the-grid. The guest suite looks newly renovated and was clean upon our arrival. It is setup like a studio with a queen bed in one corner and a sofa that converts to a twin size futon. My 8-yo daughter slept on the futon and she complained it was uncomfortable so I wouldn't recommend it for an adult. The queen mattress however was very comfortable but please note you have to bring your own bedding and pillows for both beds. The amenities onsite (farm animals, zipline and archery) was very entertaining for my daughter. She also appreciated the trampoline and playground area. Since we were the first guests to book the unit, there were some kinks that still need to be worked out. There is a problem with the toilet where you cannot flush any toilet paper in it at all otherwise it clogs. It was pretty inconvenient to put toilet paper in the trash can as a workaround. There is also no cold water or ice available in the freezer which was important since the weather was really hot. Also the picnic area, grills, microwave, refrigerator and freezer needs cleaning to be ready for guest use. Overall we had a great time and would recommend the place to others.

Alicia T.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2022

Retreat in the Redwoods.

With kids ·