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Travel West guide to unique destinations, sight-seeing, history and
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Travel
Bargain destination in California
HARRIS
RANCH RESTAURANT & INN
Famous Steak Stop on California Interstate 5
It
has to be said, California’s Interstate 5 route from Los Angeles
to Sacramento and the Bay area has to be one of the most boring freeways
in the west. From the “Grapevine” south of Bakersfield where
it splits from Highway 99 to the 580 cut-off through the Altamont pass
is two lanes in each direction of stare ahead, try to stay awake nothing.
The I5 passes along between the croplands of the 
central
valley and the arid foothills of the coast range, with only occasional
scenery of interest,
like the pump stations of the Mendota canal of the California Aquaduct.
The Harris Ranch Restaurant has been one of the few standout landmarks
for
travelers along this stretch of freeway since it was first built in
the 1970’s. Located about half-way between LA and San Francisco or
Sacramento, the Harris Ranch was a welcome place to stop on the journey
to have a steak fresh off the farm. About a mile and a half north of the
restaurant the highway passes the huge cattle feeding yard stretching across
the hills.
The
Harris family had been farming in California for over 100 years. Since
1937 a large
tract of land in Fresno country has fed the
cattle herds of
the Harris Ranch company which is one of the largest beef suppliers
in the golden state. The Harris Ranch brand of steaks and beef can
be found
in supermarkets across the west and in In-n-Out hamburgers. In 1977
the Harris Ranch opened a restaurant, mostly serving the local farming
community
of the San Joaquin valley and the truckers passing along I-5, where
fresh beef and produce fresh from the farm made the meal. 
In the years
since,
the Harris Ranch Restaurant has grown so much in popularity it is now
the Harris Ranch Inn and Restaurant with a 153 room Hacienda
style inn hotel
to go with the two restaurants, the Harris Ranch Steak House and the
Ranch Kitchen for casual dining, the Horseshoe Lounge bar,
gift shop and meat
and fresh produce boutique store. The Harris Ranch company is very
much invested in thoroughbred horse racing from its Harris Farms breeders
and the place abounds with photos of its race horses, from
the
horse themed
Jockey Club lounge event room, the hallways and even in the restrooms.
Aside from the truckers, I5 tourists and locals, the Harris Ranch is
also a popular fly-in spot for California pilots with its own 2,800
foot lighted
airport runway. The runway is a bit narrow and challenging, but the
private airport facility provides ample tie-downs and self-serve aviation
fuel.
Airnav-308
The Harris Ranch Inn has a 25 meter Olympic swimming pool and three
outdoor spas. The rooms range from deluxe doubles to family suites.
The rooms
are designed in a classic country theme and some feature Lazy Boy recliners
like any real hacienda California ranch should. The property is landscaped
with a resort destination feel, though a little in the middle of nowhere.
The Harris Ranch is located at the intersection of Interstate 5 and
Highway 198 near Coalinga, about 50 miles west of Fresno. Recreation
opportunities
nearby are the Kings River and hiking at the Pinnacles National Monument
in the high coast range canyons of a former volcano known as the home
to California Condors. © Bargain
Travel West
Find the best deal, read review of Harris Ranch Inn on TripAdvisor
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Web Info
Harris Ranch
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