Government ID required upon booking, thank you.
About this space
Sierra Blue Zone (formerly Rancho Tarantula), is a spacious log cabin with a sparkling pool and waterfall in the Sierra Foothills in a chaparral country and is rich with wildlife. 30 minutes from the Sierra National Forest and 45 to the southern entrance to Yosemite. Deer, coyote, raptors, and bunnies regularly frequent the property. Crystal-clear nighttime skies offer glorious views from the pool of the stars and Milky Way. It's the perfect home-base for day excursions to Yosemite.
The space
Sierra Blue Zone is full of enchanting bohemian accents combined with a lovely open feel-- You'll find plants, books, a large jazz and classical record collection, and locally grown flowers and produce when available. The pool is solar heated which is especially luxurious at night for floating in the warm water under the stars.
Sierra Blue Zone the perfect place to come for a calm, serene nature retreat; and absolutely not the right place to come to party. Please read house rules before booking.
Sierra Blue Zone is about the abundant and varied wildlife and enjoying the calming effect of being somewhere still mostly wild and unspoiled. It is an animal safe-haven. Deer, bunnies and other wildlife live, and/or come here to nap and have a guaranteed place they know they'll be protected, loved and respected.
The house is owned by an award-winning graphic designer and NASA/SETI imaging specialist and avid nature evangelist. This is not a soulless, generic property, this is their home, and when you're not in it, they are.
There's a Google Home system throughout the house, so you can play music or turn on, change color, dim and off lights by simply asking. You'll have the entire house to yourself, consisting of the master bedroom and its en suite with a shower and luxurious soaking tub, a second full bathroom at the other end of the house, second bedroom, kitchen, dining room, and a large living room which can sleep an additional four people.
The owner will be on the property in their separate dwelling in the capacity of concierge should you need anything. Call anytime for help or questions, day or night.. You will rarely see the owner unless you request it. The backyard pool/BBQ area is all yours and not shared. It's private, not visible from the owner's place.
Please make yourself at home!
Guest access
Guests park in front of the garage. The guest entrance is down the curved pathway to the right of the garage.
This house is strange in that there's no front door!
Please text when you're close and owner will meet you outside, welcome and help you get oriented with a quick tour of the house, then you'll go separate ways unless you need or want further interaction during the course of your stay. Owner is available by text or phone call day or night if you need help with anything at all. The goal is for you to have an effortless, beautiful experience here.
Other things to note
Please know that Sierra Blue Zone is not a soulless turnkey money-making investment. It's my home of five years, and when you're not in it, I am. I because I love to share the experience of being here, and it allows me to be able to support the work I do which includes nature-based science/art projects and volunteer work with wildlife.
Some of the indoor plants are faux plants to prevent my having to enter the premises to water. Please know that I may need to water outdoor plants depending on weather and give the deer fresh water every day in front of the garage. If you are here longer than 3 days, we can talk about getting the real indoor plants some water. That will be the only time you may see me. I will be as unobtrusive and invisible as possible while continuing to keep things running. I look forward to you having a care-free and relaxing stay.
For those with severe cat allergies:
Although Sierra Blue Zone is professionally cleaned after every stay, being a pet-friendly home, cats and dogs are part of the equation so if you have severe allergies, unfortunately I wouldn't recommend you stay here. If they are mild to moderate, you should be just fine.
There is an enclosed cat habitat off the master bedroom where my cats lounge when not in my dwelling. It's connected by a cat tunnel. The habitat is visually private. You'll see only cats, not me.
Please note that the habitat is not a shared pet area. It's locked and there is no access to it for guests, but it's visible through the sliding glass doors. Think of it like an atrium with plants and cats. This is how my pets get to be outside without being eaten by the local wildlife, which can include raptors, coyotes, bobcats, and the occasional mountain lion. You can also simply close the curtains and not see the cats or their habitat at all.
About your own pets:
Always walk dogs on a leash; never let your pet off-leash. There are predators here. We're in the Sierra foothills. Rattlesnakes live here. They are shy and you'll almost certainly never see one, but you don't want to let your dog run under the deck, poke its nose into holes, crevices in rocks. or anywhere you can't see into, and always look down.
