The varian ranch Room
The varian ranch Room
The Varian Ranch Room honors the cattle that make up our livelihood here on the V6. From our early beginnings as a cattle operation to current day, cattle sustain us in many ways. This room is spacious with tall ceilings and a loft. The downstairs queen bed and the upstairs two twin beds are all custom works by John Varian with the expertise of artist Steve Kalar. The walls are adorned by photos taken here on the ranch.
Features:
Queen sized bed
Two twin sized beds
Loft
Mural
Bar seating
Porch seating
Art & Materials
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Mural
The mural in this room was painted by local artist Steve Kalar.
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Railings
The top rails of the railing are made from old horse corral boards from Creston, CA. You’ll notice the boards are uneven from being chewed on by horses over the years. The rest of the railing is redwood bridge timber from the original bridges on the road between Parkfield and the V6 Ranch.
The History of the v6 ranch
as told by jack Varian
The Varian Family, 1969
In the summer of 1958 I graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Animal Husbandry. Newly married to my wife Zera, we were now ready to become full time cattle ranchers. In 1961, after a stint in"Pinch Gut Canyon”, we heard about a pretty nice ranch of some 8,000 acres near the little town of Parkfield, in Southern Monterey County. The very next day we met the owner of the ranch and he would showed us around.
We all know what love-at-first-sight is. Well, Zee and I were immediately smitten with this land that laid at the headwaters of the Little Cholame Creek. Cholame is a Yokut Indian word meaning the Beautiful One. They sure new what they were talking about and for me this valley is living proof that Camelot is alive and well. In the month of November 1961 we closed escrow on what would become The V6 Ranch.
We started with just one old barn that still stands at our headquarters and through the winter of 1961 we built a wonderful house of 1,000 Sq. Ft. In the spring of 1962 we spent our first night and have been camping here with Mother Nature’s permission ever since. Zera and I casted our lot with all our energy and I hope with a modicum of common sense and we became 6 and The V6 came into being. Now we are 19 strong and Zee and I look back with no regrets. Zera left a life in Culver City and I left a life in Palo Alto.
There is now 20,000 acres, 3,000 of which our son Greg and his family own and 17,000 that the V6 owns. The whole of it is on loan from Mother Nature. The loan is protected by a conservation easement that says "this land can never be divided into smaller parcels”, meaning this land will remain beautiful, open landscape forever, however long that is.
Sincerely,
Jack Varian
FAQs
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A reservation at the Parkfield Lodge does not grant you access to the V6 Ranch.
The V6 Ranch is first and foremost a working cattle ranch so guest activities are all guided and available on a limited basis.
To gain access to the V6 Ranch join us for one of our Ranch Rides. See available rides here or inquire about a private trail ride (limited availability).
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The Parkfield Lodge is 2.5 miles from the V6 Ranch in the one block town of Parkfield, population 18.
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Parkfield is a place to kick off your boots and relax. Enjoy our pool and hot tub, sit around the fire pit, BBQ on our expansive grounds, go for a walk or cycle down our quiet country roads, read a book in front of the fireplace in the Gathering Room, or sit on the porch and just be.
There are over 200 species of birds living in our towering Valley Oaks and golden meadows creating a symphony of birdsong. Parkfield enjoys very limited light pollution so the star gazing from the hot tub is spectacular. The Parkfield Coalinga Grade climbs over 1000 feet in just a few miles, providing a spectacular perch to watch the sunset.
Join us on the V6 Ranch for one of our Ranch Rides. See available rides here or inquire about a private trail ride (limited availability).
Parkfield is a place to unplug and be present.
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Outdoor Adventure
Join us on the V6 Ranch for one of our Ranch Rides (see available rides here) or inquire about a private trail ride (limited availability).Neighboring ranches also offer the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Central Coast.
- Work Family Ranch - San Miguel, CA
- Lazy Arrow Adventures - Santa Margarita, CAExplore the Beautiful Central Coast
Parkfield provides a great base to explore the stunning Central Coast. Here are some of our favorite day trips:
- Paso Robles Wine Country
- San Miguel Mission
- Scenic Highway 1
- San Luis Obispo
- Hearst Castle
- Pinnacles National Park
- Pismo BeachHunting
Parkfield’s surrounding landscapes are home to thriving populations of Wild Hogs, Black Tailed Deer, Turkeys, Dove, Quail and more. Go hunting with one of the expert guides in the Parkfield Area.
- Miller Brothers Expeditions - Parkfield, CA
- Boaring Experiences - Parkfield, CA
- Camp Five Outfitters - San Miguel, CA -
The Parkfield Cafe is open Thursday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
Spring, Summer & Fall Hours:
- Thursday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
- Friday: 11:30am to 9:00pm
- Saturday: 11:30am to 9:00pm
- Sunday: 11:30am to 8:00pmWinter Hours:
- Thursday: 11:30am to 7:00pm
- Friday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
- Saturday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
- Sunday: 11:30am to 7:00pmWe are open year round except for the following dates:
- The month of December
- New Years Day
- Easter Sunday
- The 4th of July -
A continental breakfast will be prepared for you each morning and put out in the Gathering Room around 8:00am. The breakfast includes a fresh baked pastry and fruit.
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Cancelation Policy:
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until ten (10) days prior to your date of arrival. If you cancel with less than ten (10) days notice, we will do our best to re-sell the room(s). If we are not able to re-sell the room(s), we will access a fee of one night plus tax (for the first night of your reservation).Pet Policy:
Well behaved pets are allowed for an additional fee of $30 per pet. Maximum of two pets. Pets must be well trained and controlled by their owner. Any damage to the room caused by your pet(s) will result in additional charges. There is an 80-pound weight limit per pet. By law, dogs may not be left unattended in rooms.No Party Policy:
To ensure the comfort of all guests as well as our neighbors, parties are not allowed at the Parkfield Lodge or on its grounds.Please understand that if other guests or neighbors are disturbed due to excessive noise, management reserves the right to ask everyone to vacate the premises and any refund of room rate will be forfeited at that time.
You may also incur a fee of $500.00 as a disturbance charge.
Additional Policies:
Rooms are double occupancy and subject to 10.5% hotel tax plus $1 tourism tax per night per room.Additional persons limited to specific rooms, are assessed a $25 per night fee. Kids under 18 are free.
Designated weekends require a minimum two-night stay for Friday and Saturday night.
explore other rooms
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The Cowboy Cabin
The Cowboy Cabin has a king size bedroom and a bedroom with two twin beds. This cabin has a large living room, breakfast nook, spacious bathroom, and a private porch with a table, chairs and two rocking chairs. It's very warm, inviting and perfect for a family.
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The Post Office
In 1907 this building was drug into place by a team of 14 horses and was used as the Parkfield Post Office for decades. Today is serves as a cozy getaway, with two bedrooms, a living area, a luxurious bathroom with a stone walk-in shower, and a front porch on Main Street Parkfield.
