LUXURY HOTELS IN Oakhurst

Introducing Oakhurst

Memories of the Old West echo all around Oakhurst. The area was first home to several Native American tribes, before playing a supporting role in the famous Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. While later, the town was forced to change its name from ‘Fresno Flats’ to sidestep the bad press from an infamous local stagecoach robbery. Today, Oakhurst is a small yet bustling community perfectly placed at the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. From your luxury hotel base, there’s simply no better jumping-off point for exploring central California.

Things to do

NATURE

Oakhurst lies nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, surrounded by an unspoiled wilderness of sparkling streams and panoramic vistas that transport you to frontier times. Hiking trails abound, from the nearby Lewis Creek scenic route, to awe-inspiring adventures around Yosemite National Park. Take in the massive ancient sequoias of Mariposa Grove, or gaze up in wonder at monumental rock formations such as El Capitan and Half Dome. This is the American landscape at its grandest.

DRINK

For a town that made its name plying prospectors with well-earned refreshments, it should come as no surprise that Oakhurst is still overflowing with top-notch tipples today. The Idle Hour Winery is Oakhurst’s first winery, focusing on small-lot, single-vineyard designated varieties from some of California's best wine-growing regions. If craft beer is more your thing, the Southgate Brewing Company offers a range of locally produced ales. Rather whet your whistle with a whiskey? Then make a bee-line for the distillery tasting room at Oakhurst Spirits.

CULTURE

Beginning just seven miles north of Oakhurst, Yosemite has been capturing artists’ hearts for generations – perhaps most famously the iconic American landscape photographer Ansel Adams. A daytrip to the Ansel Adams Gallery at the heart of the National Park offers the chance to see his starkly beautiful black and white images in the natural setting which inspired them. While back in Oakhurst itself, the Timberline artists’ co-op regularly exhibits contemporary local work that celebrates the natural beauty of the wider Sierra Nevada region.