A Private Sierra Lake Sanctuary — Truly Off the Beaten Path | House in North Fork
5 Bedroom House in North Fork
Nested on 80 acres in the Serria Foothills with a private 3 acre lake. Just 6 miles to Bass Lake, 27 miles to Yosemite National Park South entrance and 45 miles from Fresno Yosemite International Airport. An unforgettable vacation experience. We believe that everyone deserves to escape the stresses of everyday life and enjoy some time in a beautiful, relaxing environment. Honeymoons, Family Retreats, Company or Team Meetings, Yoga Groups and more.
Built with intention. Steeped in history. Shared, now, with you
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Hidden in the Sierra Nevada foothills above the small community of North Fork, California — the geographic heart of the state — this extraordinary open-beam lake house is not the kind of place you stumble upon. You have to know it exists. And once you've been here, you will not stop thinking about it.
Conceived and built in 1992 by two of California's most remarkable figures, the house sits above its own private lake on a property that has been quietly tended as a bird and wildlife sanctuary for more than three decades. What they created here was never meant to impress. It was meant to endure — and it has.
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The House
The architecture speaks immediately and directly to early California. Massive open beams span the main living space in great soaring arches — structural, unhurried, proud of their own craft — giving the interior the particular quality of silence that only old timber and honest construction can produce. This is not a house that tries to be rustic. It simply is, in the way that things built with care and genuine materials always are.
The wrap-around veranda is where you will spend most of your time. It follows the house on all sides, wide and deep, oriented toward the lake, and it occupies that rare and perfect middle ground between indoors and out. Morning coffee here, as the mist lifts off the water. Evening wine here, as the light goes gold on the pines and the herons settle in the shallows below. The veranda does not compete with the landscape. It frames it.
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The Lake & The Land
The lake is private. That word carries real weight here — no other guests, no passing boats, no strangers on the opposite shore. The water is yours for the duration of your stay, along with everything that lives around it.
The property has never been landscaped in the conventional sense. Instead, over thirty years, it has become a genuine sanctuary for the wildlife of the Sierra foothills. Great blue herons work the shallows with ancient patience. Acorn woodpeckers conduct their boisterous communal lives in the pines above the house. Osprey hunt the lake. Wood ducks and mergansers move through in season. At dusk, mule deer come to the water's edge. The land does not perform wildness for your benefit — it simply is wild, quietly and completely, and you are invited into it.
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The Story Behind the House
The house was built by J.S. Holliday — known to Californians simply as Jim — one of the great historians of the American West, whose landmark work The World Rushed In gave the Gold Rush its fullest and most human account. Jim spent his career listening to the voices of the forty-niners who had flooded into these very Sierra foothills more than a century before him, and when he came to North Fork, he understood instinctively that he was on storied ground. The Sierra Nevada had been drawing people toward something essential about themselves for a very long time.
His partner in building the house was Belinda Vidor, daughter of the legendary Hollywood director King Vidor — a man whose films had swept across the American landscape with a visual hunger and a deep belief that geography shapes the soul. Belinda inherited that eye. She understood the property the way her father understood a location: not as a backdrop but as a living protagonist, a place that told its own story if you were willing to be still enough to hear it.
Together, they built a house that honored both of those sensibilities — the historian's reverence for what came before, and the filmmaker's daughter's instinct for what a place, properly seen, can reveal. The open beams reach back into early California vernacular. The veranda opens outward toward the lake and the mountains. The land is left to its own life. The result is a home that feels, from the moment you arrive, as if it has always been exactly here.
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North Fork, California
North Fork sits in Madera County at approximately 2,600 feet elevation — high enough for cool summers and brilliant autumn color, accessible enough for a long weekend. The surrounding Sierra Nevada foothills are Gold Rush country, full of history and hiking and small mountain towns that time has treated gently. Yosemite National Park is within easy reach. Bass Lake is minutes away. But the most compelling reason to come to North Fork is this property itself — a place that has no interest in competing with anywhere else.
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The house accommodates families and small groups. It is a place for people who understand that the rarest luxury is not what a property offers, but what it asks of you — to slow down, to pay attention, to remember what California was before it was in such a hurry.
Some places are worth finding.
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A Private Sierra Lake Sanctuary — Truly Off the Beaten Path is located in North Fork. A Private Sierra Lake Sanctuary — Truly Off the Beaten Path provides accommodation, featuring Parking, Laundry, Designated Smoking Area, among other amenities. This House features Parking, Laundry, Designated Smoking Area, to make your stay a comfortable one.
A Private Sierra Lake Sanctuary — Truly Off the Beaten Path has 5 Bedrooms , 3 Bathrooms, and max occupancy of 22 people. The minimum rental for this property is 1 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated House because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this House, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. House has a friendly neighborhood, and the North Fork has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the House in North Fork, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.
This Property is OneKey Eligible
Earn OneKeyCash for every dollar spent on eligible vacation rentals, villas, cottages, cabins, and more when you book on Vrbo.
Amenities
Facility Overview
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Heating
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Shampoo
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Soap
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Shower
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Towels provided
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Hair dryer
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3 bathrooms
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Toilet paper
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Bed sheets provided
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5 bedrooms
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Dining table
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Living room
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Dining room
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Fireplace
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Microwave
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Stovetop
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Electric kettle
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Toaster
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Lobster/crab pot
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Dishwasher
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Ice maker
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Refrigerator
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Oven
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Washing machine and dryer
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Laundry facilities
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Onsite parking
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Wheelchair-accessible parking available
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Pet friendly
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1 total pets
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Welcoming dogs only
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Area rugs in public areas
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Stair-free path to entrance
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Smooth flooring in public areas
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If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
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Well-lit path to entrance
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Designated smoking areas
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1 on-site accessible parking spaces
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Upper floors accessible by stairs only
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No elevators
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Wheelchair-accessible parking
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Handrails in stairways
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Hiking/biking trails nearby
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Swimming nearby
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Kayaking nearby
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Boat on site
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Water sports equipment
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Wildlife and game walks nearby
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Birdwatching nearby
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Hiking nearby
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Fishing nearby
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Power boating nearby
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Marina nearby
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Smart TV with cable/satellite service
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Books
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Stereo
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Pool or billiards table
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At least 80% lighting from LEDs
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Unit size: 4600 sq ft (427 sq m)
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Double-glazed windows
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Water-efficient toilets only
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English
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In a rural location
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On the lake
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In the mountains
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Computer monitor
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Desk chair
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Printer
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Desk
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Children's games
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Children's books
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Travel crib
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Highchair
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Playground
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Phone
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Iron/ironing board
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Free WiFi
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Outdoor furniture
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Barbecue grill
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Porch or lanai
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Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
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Deadbolt lock
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Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
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First aid kit
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Fire extinguisher
Policies
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed this property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room this property is managed through our partner, vrbo. you will receive an email from vrbo with a link to a vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
FAQ's
Is this North Fork house pet-friendly for guests?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Check the guest reviews to learn what guests had to share.
Does the North Fork house have a swimming pool?
No, this North Fork house does not have a swimming pool. Check the Facility Overview section for details about the pool and other available facilities.
How much does it cost per night to stay in North Fork house?
Best-rates for the North Fork house starts from $1,284 per night with includes Barbecue/Outdoor Cooking, Pet Friendly, Bedding/Linens, Child Friendly, Kitchen, Fireplace/Heating, Guest Services, Internet, Parking, Laundry, Designated Smoking Area, TV, Balcony/Terrace, Sports/Activities, Wellness Facilities, Entertainment with all other facilities. matches every traveler with their perfect accommodation, whether you are traveling with a group, friends, family, or pets.
Is North Fork house a family-friendly place to stay?
Based on the information we have received from the owner or our partner, this is considered to be a family-friendly property. Families have rated this house Good or guests have recommended them suitable for families. As reported by the owner or manager, the house has specified that children are welcome. Please see details about suitability for your family or inquire with the property to learn more.
Is the North Fork house wheelchair accessible or offer services for disabled guests?
Based on the information received from our partner, the North Fork house has not specified they are wheelchair accessible. Likewise, there is not an elevator specified as being available at the property. Specific accessibility details may be addressed in the property details section of this page.
What is the minimum night stay policy for the North Fork house?
Based on the information reported by the owner or manager, the North Fork house indicates 1 day stay policy at this house. Guests are cautioned that the minimum stay policy may differ based on seasonality or availability and may be at the discretion of the owner or manager.
What cancellation policy is in place for North Fork house?
Guests are cautioned that the cancellation policy may differ based on seasonality, availability, or current travel restrictions. Guests should also be aware that this policy may be subject to change and should be confirmed prior to booking. More details may be available on this page in the property description. However, early check-in or late check-out can sometimes be negotiated between the guest and the owner or the manager of this property.
