Santa Cruz's Rudy Ranch
8 acres hosted by Gordon R.
1 lodging site
· 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 2 toilets
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Activities
Biking
Boating
Hiking
Horseback riding
Natural features
Beach
Forest
Redwoods
River, stream, or creek
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Sam n Alex
98% (65)
Toilet
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for NaN guests$145
/ nightReviews
95% Recommend196 ratings · 165 reviews
Great spot, walkable to town with outdoorsy charm, the old growth redwood cabin was beautiful. Pool was great, especially since it can get a little warm inland! Getting in and set up was super easy, no hassle.
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Amanda H.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
Quiet, beautiful, fun history, great town and food. It's a perfect place to unwind and get away and still have modern amenities.
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Michele D.
2 reviews
Mixed feelings
· June 2024
Overall the hosts were very welcoming and apologetic but we were left disappointed as we booked a month in advance the property was not prepared for guests just yet. We arrived on the day of the booking and noticed the room was not prepared. We gave the host a call who answered right away, but was confused as he was unaware that guests were coming and the space was not cleaned as their family was visiting with the weekend prior. After confirming our booking and calling us back they were very apologetic and asked us to leave for about an hour so they could clean our room. After we returned the room was ready go, we changed and went to head to the pool which was also unfortunately not ready for guests. As previously mentioned they had family over the weekend prior and had forgotten about our booking so the pool area had not been cleaned just yet and there was trash and beer cans throughout. While the hosts were very kind and apologetic my guest and I left feeling like we were intruding in their space as nothing was set up for our time. If you plan on booking I would highly recommend sending the hosts a few messages in advance so they can prepare for your arrival.
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Aniesha M.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2024
My partner and I had such a great time our first stay at Sam N Alex that we decided to come back for working vacation after a particularly stressful week! Would recommend for folks in the Bay Area who want a restful retreat which feels further away than it actually is :)
Kaiya M.
3 reviews
Had a great time staying at Sam n Alex over a rainy weekend. The hot tub is private and very accessible, and the property is surrounded by trees. It is beautiful in the Santa Cruz mountains! There were also some restaurants in walking distance; I particularly liked Treehouse Cafe and Tae’s Edo Sushi. Would recommend and visit again!
Kaiya M.
3 reviews
Roni & Gordon's place "Sam & Alex" was a great place for us to have a weekend getaway in the Santa Cruz area. The place was really cozy, they thought of everything to make us comfortable. We even used the hot tub, and outdoor fireplace. They are super accommodating, warm, welcoming and were very responsive to anything we may have asked for. Boulder Creek is a really great little town, and we explored Ben Lomond and Felton too, while having close access to the beach in Santa Cruz. I highly recommend staying at "Sam & Alex" and staying with Roni & Gordon!
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Gary A.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2023
Tent ·
Oliver
This was a great over night spot for me. I was in town for a concert and it was nice to hang out by the pool before hand. The grass for my tent was quite comfortable and the bathroom and shower were just fine despite a couple of the reviews on here. It is camping after all and I got a spot at the last minute too. Try doing that at the state park just down the road!
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Ken H.
8 reviews
Recommends
· July 2023
Hi!
We had a very nice time at Gordon’s land. I may have misread and misunderstood it was a detached cabin. It’s actually a lovely, vintage style bedroom w/bathroom & shower, fridge, microwave & private entrance—The essentials for a wknd getaway. The hot tub is perfect for two, however the patio could offer more privacy from the main unit’s patio. Thank you for the thoughtful additions: sleep masks, cold water, craft beer purchase, popcorn, towels, etc. Being such a warm wknd, we would have appreciated an additional fan. Thank you so much!
~Olivia
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Olivia S.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2023
The property was beautiful and the space was very comfortable. We loved the wildlife!
Ashley G.
5 reviews
Recommends
· July 2023
Loved staying in Sam and Alex! Gordon was super friendly and helpful. Close to the Main street, restaurants and shops.
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Anjali R.
2 years on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· June 2023
5 m car ·
Oliver
Unfortunately, I had a unpleasant experience on my one night stay. I booked an RV site to do car camping. The bathroom available, by the pool, was flooded on both days. There was flooding on the lower floor that looked filmy and gross. The hand soap in the bathroom was very watered down.
The pool was closed.
The fire area was great, and had wood, fire starter and everything we needed to start a great fire.
But I would not stay again due to the bathroom issue. I originally booked this spot to have a better public campsite bathroom experience, but that didn’t come true.
Grace Y.
2 years on Hipcamp
Gordon and Roni’s land was a lovely spot, with easy access to lots of cute mountain towns! The best part is that they made me feel like family, I felt safe and comfortable the entire time I was there. Beware light sleepers: the ravens caw up in the trees during daylight, and y’all better not be rude to them cause those birds will remember! Overall, beautiful piece of land with great ammenities and the nicest folks you can find west of the Mississippi (and north of Texas 😉)!
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Brenna C.
8 reviews
Great spot. Gordon and Roni were extremely responsive and helpful. Slept great in the nice cool night air and had easy access to Big Sur and Redwoods galore
Nick G.
5 reviews
Recommends
· September 2022
Tent ·
Oliver
Great place! Beautiful views! Excellent facilities. Definitely would recommend and return! Perfect host.
Jabari M.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2022
Tent ·
Oliver
Comfortable and relaxing space for the wee, thank you.
J
Joshua O.
3 years on Hipcamp
Blanche was very cozy. I was alone the first night and with my daughter the 2nd night. I felt safe alone and the directions were pretty easy to follow. I would recommend not arriving in the dark, like I did. Once I got my bearings, I was very comfortable and the combination of being in a cozy bed & in a redwood grove was so soothing. I could hear critters and I loved it. The shower and bathroom and morning coffee all were nice and very appreciated as well. I have already recommended Blanche to friends.
Amanda M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2022
Very welcoming hosts. Cabin was east to access. Very clean and decorated well. Hot tub and back patio are very private. Easy directions for all areas of the rental.
L
Landon I.
3 reviews
Recommends
· September 2022
We had a lovely time in this somewhat intimate yet private setting. We weathered the heat in the pool, enjoyed sitting outside when it cooled off a bit and made new friends around the fire. Would definitely go back. The hosts, who stopped by, were lovely.
Robin E.
3 years on Hipcamp
Not quite glamping. More like a Holiday inn than a Marriott. Overall it was clean and accurately described.
Pros:
- everything was clean
- main bathroom was well stocked. The kitchen inside was large.
- the redwoods were beautiful
- the pool was clean and the pool area was big
Cons:
- tent site was uneven. The bed hurt my middle aged back.
- furnishing were all older
- bathroom and shower in main house were small for me (I’m 6 feet tall)
- shower by the pool was tiny with nowhere to put toiletries or a towel
D
Daniel G.
4 years on Hipcamp
This site, as it were, is literally just a tiny sloping grass area next to the pool fence. When I arrived I literally stood around scratching my head looking for the site before I realized that I was, apparently, standing in it. I managed to find a level-enough spot for my 1-person backpacking tent after a few tries, but anything much larger than that -- good luck. For what still worked out to north of 100 bucks for the night, I can't say I'm thrilled.
BUT, that said, welcome to impromtu getaways in the Bay Area. Nothing is cheap here and I'm glad I didn't have to drive 2+ hours home late at night. I was up in Boulder Creek for the night to see a show, and this place is a 5 minute walk from town. The hosts were communicative, and really nice. The pool could be a nice bonus on a summer day, and there's a restroom easily accessible and everything.
I'd totally stay at the place again, but .Oliver. specifically? Yeah probably not.
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Nicholas G.
2 reviews
We loved tent camping here! Lots of space, easy to see parking signs, a pool, a kitchen, a picnic table, a bathroom with plumbing, and a gas powered fire pit all made it a perfect stay. It was so nice to be close to Boulder Creek but also just far enough it felt secluded. We will be back :)
Cory A.
2 reviews
Beautiful home! Loved how well organized the entire property was. It was also very clean and well maintained. Thank you for a great weekend!
R
Ray D.
2 years on Hipcamp
We loved this camp site. The area for setting up the test was nice & flat and shaded by trees. The pool was a great bonus and we had the pleasure of seeing a wild deer walk right up to us to eat the fruit off the tree next to our tent. We would recommend to friends & stay again. The facilities are good especially the bathroom but other parts need a little bit of tlc to bring them up a notch. The kitchen area had no lighting and some of the wooden seating had seen better days.
Olivia B.
7 reviews
Recommends
· August 2022
Tent ·
Oliver
Nice pool and very peaceful, quiet place 🤫 Great spot for millennials without kids 👍
Adrianne C.
2 years on Hipcamp
My partner and I enjoyed our stay at the cozy and charming “Sam n Alex” 30 minutes to the heart of Santa Cruz. The residents were quiet, respectful and the place was clean.
The hosts had lots of thoughtful add-ons like coffee, water, extra napkins, spoons, etc. the hot tub was amazing and wish we had more time to enjoy the swimming pool! Overall it was a great place to stay at, and the price is also very reasonable. Thank you !!
Maritza M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2022
3 m travel trailer ·
Oliver
Gordon's spot was a great location for the evening. Great dinner recommendation to boot.
A
Andy C.
2 years on Hipcamp
Well-appointed, private, and super cute space! I was so glad to find this gem of a place for our 3-night stay. Hot tub was great. Everything was super clean. Gordon and Roni are very nice too. Got to meet a few other guests at the pool one day - all very nice! The next afternoon we had the pool to ourselves! Loved having use of the common fridge & freezer near the pool too. An unexpected bonus!
Shelly W.
3 years on Hipcamp
Just what you would hope for, a little funky in a good way. Pool was excellent. We plan to stay again.
Chris H.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2022
Tent ·
La Rue
I loved the glamping tent at Rudy's Ranch! It was perfect, with a little bit of everything - quiet with views of nature, but close to town. The pool was also amazing, and it felt great to cool off. Though the glamping site is close to the host's house, everything was quiet and peaceful, and the bamboo fence made it feel totally private. Camping can be hard to find in this area, so La Rue was a great pit stop on my road trip!
Anna T.
79 reviews
Recommends
· June 2022
Tent ·
Oliver
I wish we had more time. The space was quiet and beautiful. The pool and facilities were clean. I would recommend without hesitation!
D
Deirdre M.
6 years on Hipcamp
Location
Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Gordon R.
Joined in June 2019Response rate: 100%
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