Bison Creek Ranch

DO NOT BOOK ACCOMMODATION AT BISON CREEK RANCH. Our stay here was the worst experience in dealing with any business anywhere. I cannot emphasize this enough. The owner, Jerry «Bronse» Cox, is a complete fraud. If you do some research on Jerry you’ll find records for tax evasion, fraud, and rape. I never write reviews. This is my second one ever. But I’m so disgusted by Jerry that I can’t let anyone else go through what we went through. However if you cannot be dissuaded then skip to the list at the end for some tips.
Our group of 10 booked a 4-​night stay at the 4 bedroom cabin. Communication was good and we were assured that our group would fit comfortably. However, we get to the ranch on a Friday afternoon and we were told that another group had checked into our cabin (WTH?). How could this happen after we spoke to Jerry multiple times and even put down a $ 600 deposit. Apparently, the ranch has a total of 3 cabins, which were not mentioned at the time of booking, and it’s first come first served. So we were redirected to another cabin at the back of the ranch. This cabin was 2 miles deep into the ranch and accessible through a road that Jerry built himself. As he put it, «that road is not for city slickers». What an understatement haha. The road is steep, and full of jagged rocks and potholes. Even in an off-​road pickup truck, it took over half an hour to drive the 2 miles. Jerry himself only takes his ATV on that road. We eventually get there and the cabin is a 2 bedroom with 3 full size beds. Conveniently Jerry forgot to mention any of these prior to letting us go through the trouble to get there. But we were there to have fun and were committed to stay even if half of us had to sleep on the floor. Normally, I would expect a discounted rate under these circumstances, however, Jerry asked for the full rate of $ 300/​night to be paid upfront in cash for all 4 nights. Failing to accept the warning signs, we decided to stay. And of course, as soon as Jerry took off in his ATV, it was all downhill.
After enough mishaps (see below) we asked to check out after the second night and receive a refund for the last two nights that we wouldn’t be utilizing. Jerry said that’s fair and asked us to go by his office at checkout for our refund. So we clean everything up (quite thoroughly I may add), send a message that we are on our way, and proceed to the 45-​minute drive to get to the office on the other side of the ranch. We get there and Jerry is nowhere to be found. Eventually his assistant shows up to communicate that Jerry got food poisoning from eating city food, and he’s in the bathroom throwing up. He was in fact so sick he couldn’t take a moment to write a check so he would mail us the check the following day. Really? I’ve had food poisoning many times and gone to work on the same day. But tough guy Jerry can’t even pick up a pen. At least have the decency to tell us upfront we are never getting our money back. But just to mess with us he made us waste 45 minutes getting to his office and then fed us a bunch as BS. Of course refund was never mailed after multiple attempts to contact Jerry. $ 600 down the drain.
Anything you do other than Bison Creek is a better use of your time and money. I would even suggest you forego your deposit. But, if you have to stay at the ranch then the tips below, none of which Jerry mentions, will be helpful.
1) Check in early to get the big cabin at the front of the ranch (first come first served). It’s easily accessible and comes with 2 ATV’s. The other two cabins don’t get the ATV’s and are only accessible with a raised suspension and offroad tires (+spare tire). Getting in and out of the latter cabins is hard so be prepared to stay there the entire time.
2) No fridge available for first 2 days. Fridge takes 2 days to cool down upon turning ON, and it’s only turned ON at check-​in.
3) The horses are somewhat tame and roam freely. To ride, you have to be able to lasso the leader in so the rest will follow. Also you have to bring your own saddle and be able to mount it. No assistance is provided.
4) Bring gas for the generator, and gas for the BBQ and oven. There’s only enough provided for 1 day and after that you are on your own.
5) If you want to use the hot tub bring your own generator. The one that comes with the cabin is not powerful enough. Also it’s never covered so it’s full of dead bugs.
6) You will have to pay for the entire stay upfront in cash. No refunds under any circumstances.
7) Do not attempt the hiking trails. The fishing lake trail leads to a 6-​inch deep watering hole (more of a cesspool). The river trail leads to a dried up, full of trash, river bed.
8) Bring enough food for your stay. We were given to expect fresh vegetable from the garden and fresh eggs. Garden was nowhere to be found. And you’ll get a couple of eggs for your entire group per day.

owner is a compulsive liar, shiester and thief. (and apparently a rapist
). he turns on the charm and plays people, but do not trust a word he says or his building anything to code or operating with proper permits. never order food from him for an event– it will be prepared illegally in completely unsanitary conditions. do not drink the water in the back cabin which is not approved by the county for rental– it is zoned as a storage shed. animals on ranch are treated with disregard, given no food or medical attention and left to die. there are several horse carcasses buried illegally on the property. this is just the tip of the iceburg.
if none of this bothers you, the 4 wheelin’ is fun and at least the landscape is beautiful…

One of the best vacation spots in California if you like being out doors and roughing it a bit. This is not a five star hotel. It is a five star experience! My wife and I got married there, and continue to go back 3 or so times a year. The ranch is vast to say the least, it’s full of fun atv trails and wildlife. The owner Bronz and his staff are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. They are very helpful and accommodating but will not bother you if you want privacy. Me and 10 of my friends stayed there last weekend and have never had more fun. We brought our own atvs and utvs although he does have a couple for rent. There are so many trails to explore and beautiful scenic views to see. I would highly recommend staying here if you enjoy camping, hiking, off-​roading and just being outdoors. Gets dusting during the summer months and cold in winter. Fall and spring are the best seasons to book a trip.

They won’t return our deposit after months of calling and being told we will get a full refund.
My mom booked our family for a vacation at what looked to be an awesome ranch in Yosemite. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances we would not be able to make the June 2016 dates we booked and called to let them know. Even though our stay was months away, they cashed our $ 350 deposit check.
When my mom called to cancel, well within the cancellation policy deadline, she was told she would get a full refund. She has been told this on four different occasions over the last three months. She calls, talks with the owners, they promise her get money, it never arrives.
Shame on you Bison Creek for taking advantage of a customer. And to think we were going to reschedule with Bison Creek.
Please return my mothers deposit and apologize for the horrible customer service you have provided.

I have to say our experience was good however there are some cons they don’t tell about The roads are in very bad condition, the roads have large and sharp rocks in the road way, we even had a rock puncher one of our tires and the brush is over grown over the road it scratch our new vehicle paint job causing over a $ 1000.00 damage to our truck paint job. The clincher is that that the cabin we rented for 9 day payed for and all the owner over booked it and ask us to leave a day early and i asked for a refunded for one day for the amount of $ 300.00 and after many e mails the owner said he would mail me a check, you guessed i never received my refund. The owner will not answer my e mail any more, I truly believe in integrity, never the less my family will never return to bison ranch again,.and i will spread the word over different suits until i get my refund,… i work to hard for my money

Jerry Cox is accused of holding the alleged victim against her will on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, and sexually assaulting her at his home in Mariposa County, Calif., according to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office.
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A 46-​year-​old Mariposa man has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman he met on a dating website for farmers, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday.
Jerry Cox is accused of holding the alleged victim against her will on Friday afternoon and sexually assaulting her, according to Kristi Mitchell, a sheriff’s spokeswoman.
Authorities gave little information about the woman, saying only she was an adult from outside the county.
Mitchell declined to comment on many details of the case, citing a need to protect the investigation.
Detectives believe Cox and the woman met on the agriculture-​themed dating site and met in person Friday afternoon. At some point, they wound up at Cox’s ranch on CYA Road in the Mount Bullion area of Mariposa County.
Deputies believe the woman was then held against her will, raped and threatened. The woman reported the allegations to the Sheriff’s Office later that day.
«We’re not releasing how she got from (the ranch) to the Sheriff’s Department at this time,» Mitchell said.
Cox remained in custody Monday at the Mariposa County Jail on suspicion of rape, false imprisonment, kidnapping and making criminal threats, all felonies. His bail was set at $ 500,000.
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The good: If you love true, rugged outdoorsy living (which I do!), then this is your place to escape. My girlfriend and I joined a handful of friends for a long weekend of ATV riding, free-​roaming bison and horses, crazy hour-​long, rocky drives to a secluded river and the random firing of a 100-​year-​old shotgun off the back porch. The greatest feature of this place is its hands-​off approach; do what you want, when you want (see firing shotgun off the back porch).
The bad: We didn’t feel that the website or our interaction with the owners beforehand fully disclosed the conditions. Fortunately, I drive a 4×4 SUV and I love this sort of thing, but for those just looking to rough it a little bit, this would be a bit too much. We also were placed in a cabin that didn’t reflect the photos and proximity reflected in the pics.
In summary, my adventurous, roll-​with-​the-​punches heart loves this joint, but more clarity would serve the owners and customers well, I think.

The peacefulness and natural beauty of this ranch were exactly what my family and I needed. Bronse is always available for questions and makes sure you have what you need, but is otherwise hands off and allows you to freely enjoy the ranch. My adult sons enjoyed riding the ATV and shooting clay pigeons. We did not bring guns, but Bronse kindly loaned us a shotgun. My young daughter loved feeding the donkeys and wandering the trails. We found and explored a really neat cave that was apparently used by gold miners. The cabin is basic from the outside but quite modern on the inside, with wifi, washer/​dryer, satellite TV, and a full kitchen. There’s no AC but fans are provided, so it’s a good idea to open windows in the evening so that the cool air can enter.
Hands down, I’d say my favorite thing about the ranch was the quiet. No traffic, no planes, no sounds of civilization — just birds singing, insects humming, and occasional howling from the ranch’s friendly wolf dogs. We brought our Lab, and she had the time of her life running free without limits. She got along well with the other animals, though the donkeys were a new experience for her. If you bring your dog, I’d suggest bringing a brush to remove the burrs. The chickens, donkeys, horses, and bison wander freely. Fresh eggs and vegetables are available.
We ventured into Yosemite one day, but the crowds were overwhelming, and we couldn’t wait to get back to the tranquil ranch. We plan to return and bring more family! Thank you to Bronse, Armando, and Aaron for our outstanding experience at the ranch!

I will write more when I get home, but I just didn’t want to forget to give the highest glowing recommendation possible for Bison Creek Ranch. This place is a place I could spend the east of my life.
Thanks Bronz for sharing this perfect place with me and my family.

We stayed a couple of nights on the ranch and loved it. Bronz and Sabrina were great, very accommodating, and always available (they live at the far end of the ranch). They gave us tips on what to do and see on the ranch. Bronz took us around to see the old gold mine so we could find it to explore at our pace later; he said it was safe to go in, but we only ventured in a few feet. There’s gold panning equipment at the cabin so you could pan for gold at the creeks. He loves what he does and where he lives and he shares his valuable insights. He’ll show you what plants and fruits are edible and there’s lots on the ranch. We picked fresh veggies from the green house and fresh eggs from the henhouse. Blackberries were all over so we had a fresh supply wherever we went. They have a pet wolf which helps protect the animals on the ranch and keep the predators away (coyotes, jackals, bears). The scenery is beautiful wherever you look and you’ll feel like the only people in the world as there are no other cabins nearby. All the animals roam free on the ranch so you’ll see them at different places throughout. During our stay we had a herd of bison walk past the cabin one afternoon and we awoke to a herd of horses waiting for us right outside our cabin one morning; we fed them apples and carrots and were able to ride one thanks to Bronz. He lent us an ATV which was a great way to get around and explore the ranch as it is very large. You will get dusty so plan accordingly; there is a washer and dryer in the cabin so you can wash your clothes if they get too dirty. In the summer, the cabin warms up during the day and it can be uncomfortable to sleep in the loft, but the fans provided help as well as keeping the screened windows open to get fresh air flowing. There is free wi-​fi available which is great, because we barely had cell service; the best you could get was by going up the mountains. He did have a landline phone in the cabin, but for local calls only. I would suggest signing up for Google Voice (free), so you can call for free via wi-​fi using their Hangouts app or having some other VOIP app available if you plan on making calls; there is a computer in the cabin so you may be able to connect a MagicJack. Overall, it was a one-​of-​a-​kind experience for our family which we thoroughly enjoyed.

I have read some very good reviews about the Bison Creek Ranch, and as we were planning our trip on to Yosemite park I start looking for a nice place for the whole family (my husband and me with our 3 young children and my parents) in that area.
The main house in the Ranch was not available that weekend and Bronse (the owner) suggested this new lodge Cabin for us, located in the same Ranch.
The cabin was beautiful, a new log house with fire place and an antique stove.
a large kitchen with a long counter and a cozy dinning room.
there was one master bedroom down stairs and next to it one bathroom, and a big bedroom up stairs with two queen size bads.
The view outside was amazing, it is like we were having our own national park to our selves.
But, and there is a big but, the electricity in the house is working on a solar equipment, and it is not that efficient, we were staying there on a very hot week (like 90 degrees during the day) and the electricity lasts only for 1.5 hours (even when we used only 2 lamps and the rest were candles).
so you need to be ready for that, it could have been nice if the owner would have told us about it in advance or at least add more of these led flash lights that could last for about 100 hours each.
if you are interested in such an adventurer (like we did) bring couple of led flash lights with you, at least one for each bed so you can see where you are going if you wake up at night.
second thing that you need to take into account is that there are no hot water, you can feel very hot water at first, but it doesn’t last for more then a few seconds.
and the last thing is the stairs… it is actually a ladder, and it not very save for kids and old people, and not for anyone actually (and we are a family who does trek and hike), this is not the kind of stairs you want to clime down in the dark!
to finalize the review, I would like to say that the owner is very charming and handsome, and wiling to help if you catch him… (it is not that easy as there is no phone reception in that area and no phone in the cabin).
we set outside at nights after a long hike at Yosemite park, and light a fire with the wood that the owner keep maintaining, make BBQ and marshmallow for the kids.
I recommend this cabin, it was an amazing adventure to us and for the kids, but you should know what to expect, and verify you are properly prepared for that.

An unforgettable experience! My family spent three nights including New Years this year and had the time of our lives. This property is a real treat. The log cabin situated on a beautiful ranch with nobody around but us, a few people who work on the ranch and a herd of Bison, wild pigs, an orphaned deer who comes up to our cabin every morning for us to prepare her breakfast, and horses running free. The owner, Jerry, is so knowledgeable about the area which makes this an even more enriching experience. We rented the ATVs and buzzed around the miles of roads on this private ranch, investigating grave sites from the 1920s, Indian artifacts, waterfalls, gold mines, you name it. My kids did not want to leave. This was a real treat, to experience a way of life we rarely get to see anymore. We can’t wait to go back.