Dardanelle Resort

Dardanelle Resoert is historic, remote, off grid camping resort that burnt down in 2018. We are trying to rebuild the resort fully. 

Dardanelle Resort was built in 1923 and consisted of a large general store, restaurant, bar, gas station, post office, four room motel, restroom building, eight cabins, and a 35 full hookup RV campground.  In 2018 the Donnell  Fire completely destroyed the resort. 

We are seeking funding to rebuild the resort back to what it was prior to the fire. This includes the general store,  the restaurant and bar, the cabins and the post office. Dardanelle Resort sits on seventeen acres in the Stanislaus National Forest and operates on a Special Use Permit through the forest service. The resort is located on the Highway 108 corridor, near the base of the Sonora Pass, south of Tahoe and north of Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

Our customer base has stayed consistent, as  the majority of our campers have been camping with us for generations. We provide services to the surrounding cabin owner, campers from the surrounding six campgrounds (as well as our own) and passerbys travelling along Highway 108. We are the only store and gas station along the highway for 20 miles.  We are located in a remote area and are often a respite for travellers in distress.  The resort has been a staple in this small community for nearly one hundred years. There's a large community following and support system. 

The RV Park at Dardanelles is the only campground along the Highway 108 corridor to offer full hookups. Off grid, the campground is powered by a propane generator. The general store at Dardanelle Resort offers campers a collection of both camping necessities and novelty treats.  Ice, firewood, cold drinks and snacks are among some of the most popular ites, while t-shirts and hats absolutely fly off the shelves. Our bar and restaurant offered three hearty meals a day of diner style food and a full selection at the bar. The resort hosts a variety of events through the season, including: live music Saturday nights, farmer's markets, yoga retreats, an annual harley run, Fourth of July parade and horseshoe tournament and annual rock climbers' get together. With proper rebuild and planning, the possibilities on the property are endless. 

Dardanelle Resort operates during two seaons - summer camping season from early May until November (weather dependent) and winter season from January until March (weather dependent). The highway typically closes early November and reopens April 15th due to snowfall. During the winter months the resort offers the bar and food on the weekends for snowmobile access.  There are several local snowmobile clubs that visit the resort every weekend through the winter months.These services will be expanded once the rebuild is underway and we will offer lodging as well.  We use social media to update the public weekly on the snow conditions. 

An S-Corp makes up the ownership at Dardanelles. Jim and Laurelin Lewis have extensive experience managing both resorts and vacation rentals and have worked in the hospitality industry for two decades. Keith Coggins worked as a civil engineer and city planner and is recently retired. Rene Coggins remains a silent partner. The camp host has been hosting in the Stanislaus National Forest for over twenty years and is well versed in the rules of the forest. 

The Dardanelle Resort has been an integral part of the high country for almost one hundred years. The demand and public interest to get the resort back to its original state is overwhelming and the ownership is seeking funding to help make this possible. 

Thank you!