Get away from it all at Dewerk's Ranch. 44 miles north of Reno on US Highway 395. Escape the busy world to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the Eastern Sierras. It's wilderness camping without sacrificing the comfort of home, next to thousands of acres of national forest. 7/10 mile gravel road to the house removes you from the rest of the world. Sunsets, sunrises and the night sky are amazing! It's an 84 year-old house but solid and tidy inside. Caretaker lives on site to assist as needed.
The space
This ranch house was built in 1940. As to be expected, the house has some imperfections, but it is fully functional, comfortable and cozy. Coffee, sugar and creamer is available in case you forget to bring these items yourself. Complimentary wine is also available but it's not intended to be of restaurant quality.
Heating for the home is accomplished with two wood burning stoves. We supply all the wood and fire starting materials. Usually only one of them is needed during the late fall, winter and early spring. You will be shown how to operate the wood stoves. The three bedrooms also have portable radiator electric heaters.
While the majority of guests have given us five star ratings, this home is not for people expecting a home that looks like a newly-built home in the Bay Area. It is rustic both inside and out. Several guests have stayed here multiple times because of the views, isolation and peacefulness. Even though the house is only 7/10 of a mile from US Highway 395, you will feel like you're in a different world and having gone back eight decades in time.
There are no restaurants nearby. The northern-most side of Reno is 44 miles away. Susanville is about 38 miles to the north. About 1.7 miles north is a Valero gas station with a mini-mart style store. About nine miles south is a Shell gas station with a mini-mart as well as a Dollar General Store. Susanville has a Safeway, Walmart, Grocery Outlet, several restaurants, and gas stations.
This home is sturdy. Even with strong winds it is hardly noticeable when inside. There are occasional power outages which generally last fewer than six hours. The stove/oven, refrigerator and water heater are electric units. There is a relatively new washer and dryer available for your use. There are two flashlights and candles in the house in case they are needed. We have a generator on site in the event that a power outage continues for an extended period of time.
The tap water is supplied by a well 440' deep. It has tested clean with higher than normal iron, so we supply bottled water for drinking and cooking.
This house is in the wilderness. Animals of all kinds, including bears, deer, elk, antelope, wolves, bobcats, mountain lions, wolverines have been known to pass through this property. These animals try to avoid people and are more likely to be seen during the night. We do not recommend hiking at night. Ground squirrels, possums, skunks, snakes, lizards, and numerous numerous bird species also call this area their home.
The road is smooth, decomposed granite and all-weather. However if there is snow on the road, a four-wheel drive vehicle is advisable. Tire chains on a two-wheel drive vehicle will work well too. We have a tractor and an experienced operator available to remove most of the snow in case it gets deep.
There is a first aid kit in the house. Pets are permitted for an extra fee and smoking is never permitted in the house.
If the weather conditions are good and the seasonal creek is running, we have available an experienced prospector to teach you how to pan for gold You can inquire about availability and prices.
We sincerely would love to have you as a guest and will do everything we can to make your stay as pleasant as possible.
