Few travelers speeding along Interstate 5 near Coalinga recognize that the animals they see in feedlots next to the highway waiting actually In-N-Out Burger, are processed. Of course, everyone knows that burgers come from cows, but did you know coming In-N-Out Burger from these cattle?
For the famous California-based burger chain, the high-quality beef from Harris Ranch, which is really much more than a feedlot production's use. Drive on down the interstate a piece and thenon an island of hospitality, an inn in a resort-style, there are four restaurants and various tourist services all operated by Harris Ranch features.
Nearly equidistant from Los Angeles and San Francisco - three hours each way - The word oasis is apt for Harris Ranch, when you're driving along the Interstate, it seems to come from nowhere. If you have drived north and south along Interstate 5, you know that hours of boredom driving through the San Joaquin Valley. A few serviceStation and fast food stations appear, but none like at Harris Ranch.
Drive into the parking lot at Harris Ranch and what one might have thought was just a highway motel site is actually a place, like you find in Palm Springs or some other important tourist destination. The Spanish stucco buildings surround a dramatic Olympic swimming pool. Add a few palm trees and resort-style landscaping and voila, that is much more than a night to rest on your way through theHighway.
We've gone past Harris Ranch many times, but our curiosity - and the need to break the journey from northern to southern California - has convinced us it was time to spend the night at the "ranch." It was Sunday night, and we found the inn a lot less than the capacity filled. Therefore, we went swimming in this huge pool, all of us with only one or two couples poolside at any given time.
Our oversized rooms in the third floor and offers a view of the agricultural landWho are always in the San Joaquin Valley appears to be distance. The room was not a motel room - it was a resort-style rooms with many amenities and in fact has plenty of room for two chairs instead of near the television. The beds were big, soft and comfortable and even a telltale sign was the fluffy robes in the resort-style. This proved to be much more than a stop-over, it was a destination all by itself.
That is why many California families, Harris Ranch is ideally situated to takewith relatives from the far northern and southern parts of the state. It is a big state so depending on where you live and your family, you can eliminate hours of driving each and pamper yourself while you are visiting with each other in a resort setting.
A big advantage to invest time to Harris Ranch is that you can settle in quickly and enjoy one of the finest beef dinners you will have ever experienced - with courteous service. The Harris Ranch Steakhouse is a place to rival even the most expensiveSteak houses can be seen in the big cities. When the landlord raises the cattle, the result is unbelievably tender beef cooked to perfection. Even if we do not have time to spend the night, we will make a point to go to the Steakhouse to sample more cuts of that tasty Harris Ranch beef.
The restaurant business is in fact a large part of the Harris Ranch operations. According to Restaurants and Institution Magazine Harris is 57th in the nation ranked at high volume, regardlessOwned restaurants. It is the 6th highest in California, and it takes 400 people to get to all the various Harris Ranch businesses.
The Harris Ranch story began long ago. The current owner is John Harris, whose father and grandfather were also farmers. In 1937, John took his father's farms to the San Joaquin Valley. When his father, Jack, died in 1981, John took over what was still a relatively small operation and turned it into a mult-million dollar company that nowincludes seven different businesses, the processing of beef to increase 35 different farm commodities - everything from fruit of nuts. Harris even finds time to indulge his passion, raising thoroughbred horses.
The heart of it all is the beef operation, which may at any time, from 60,000 to 120,000 cattle are in feedlots or to be processed at a nearby plant. Harris Ranch USDA Choice natural beef is distributed throughout the country and is sold at major chainssuch as Costco, Albertson's, Safeway and, yes, In-N-Out. Another good reason to stop at Harris Ranch is that visitors to take home to buy steaks or ship - they come in ice packs to keep cold.
The restaurant began back in 1977, targeting none other than the local farmers who would come up and down for a coffee or a meal and then. Due to its convenient location on Interstate 5, was the restaurant with travelers who take a break from a long trip popular. The 150-room inn builtin 1987 with the idea that should be the first-class accommodations, but still casual. There is no valet parking, for example, but the lobby driveway looks like someone had, the valet. The rooms were Mrs John Harris, Carole, functions such as Ralph Lauren fabrics for draperies and bedspreads counted.
The Harris Ranch complex today is like a mini-mall with shops, unique Gifts and Collectibles, spices and other goods. The bakery is a favorite placefor travelers who want to take home freshly baked items, all from scratch. And of course there are the usual traveler services such as the gas station and Subway sandwich shop, and the not-so-distance usual facilities such as the Harris Ranch.
It combines all of them make much more than a Harris Ranch beef processor, much more than a company of agriculture, much more than a hostel or a restaurant. This small piece of land along the highway is really a small city and destination for the wholehis own - and home to millions of future In-N-Out Burger.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: Harris Ranch is located about 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 200 miles south of San Francisco on Interstate 5th
WHAT: Not just a rest stop for weary travelers, Harris Ranch has to grow into a place of communion with restaurants, shops and other services. The well-manicured grounds even attract many couples who decide to book the ranch for their wedding functions.
WHEN: Throughout the year, with Blue-Sky WeatherIn summer a little cooler with some potential fog in winter.
WHY: Harris Ranch is the ideal place to break a drive between Northern and Southern California. Try the Steak House restaurant and you will see that have Ruth's Chris and other famous steak houses nothing about the sizzling beef at these out-of-the-way restaurant. The inn is on a par with many resort-area properties.
HOW: For more information, call 800-942-2333 or visit harrisranch.com.
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