The Forks Resort is a family-owned vacation facility nestled on Bass Lake within the Sierra National Forest, 14 miles from Yosemite National Park's southern entrance and 8 miles from the Golden Chain Highway's southern end. Operating under a U.S. Forest Service special use permit, it has been managed by the same family for four generations. The resort's signature Forks Burger was highlighted by food critic Helen Rosner in The New Yorker as one of the best things she's eaten in the past decade.[1]
| The Forks Resort | |
|---|---|
 The Forks Resort | |
  The Forks Resort  The Forks Resort | |
| General information | |
| Location | 39150 Rd 222 Bass Lake, CA |
| Coordinates | 37°18′50″N 119°34′19″W / 37.3139°N 119.5719°W |
| Opening | 1926 |
| Owner | Cox Family |
| Management | Cox Family |
| Other information | |
| Number of restaurants | The Forks Restaurant |
| Website | |
| theforksresort.com | |
The resort operates seasonally, from early spring through early fall.[2]
History
editFred Spenhoff first established The Forks Resort in 1926. The initial setup included four cabins, a general store, and a sawmill.[3] Later, Bob Miller took over the property and constructed a new store building. Unfortunately, a fire in September 1949 destroyed the building. Despite this setback, a larger and more modern structure was built in the following season.[4] The resort has stayed within the family, transitioning from Bob Miller to his daughter Pat and her husband Frank Hopkins, and eventually to their daughter Leslie Cox and her husband Ron.[5]
Before becoming a renowned actor and rodeo performer, Slim Pickens operated a saddle horse and pony ride at The Forks.[6]
Facilities and Services
edit
The Forks Resort includes The Forks Restaurant, known for its Forks Burger and a rustic diner ambiance that includes a soda fountain that opened in 1950.[7][8] It offers a parking lot for vehicles and a complementary boat dock for guest use.
The resort offers a range of accommodations, including one to three-bedroom cabins, many with lake views. It also provides a variety of recreational activities, such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The resort features a general store and a gas station for guests' convenience, along with additional services like boat and mooring rentals.[9]
References
edit- ^ Rosner, Helen (2019-12-31). "The Best Things I've Eaten This Decade". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ Lopez, Christina (2022-03-25). "Bass Lake resorts and restaurants welcome back visitors for its Opening Day on the lake". KMPH.
- ^ "Meet Leslie Cox of The Forks Resort in Bass Lake". SDVoyager. 2020-11-02.
- ^ "Bass Lake — Madera County Playland — Lures Vacationists By Thousands. Resorts and Camp Sites Are Popular". Madera Tribune. Vol. 59, no. 145. 1950-09-19. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ Hussain, Judi (2021-09-08). "At the Forks Resort, You're Family". Sierra News Online. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ Jones, Johnny (1994). Following the Bells: Traveling High Sierra Wilderness Trails. D.H. Barnes. p. 23. ISBN 0-9640058-0-8. LCCN 94-70145.
- ^ Martichoux, Alix (2020-01-06). "Food writer calls burger at rustic lodge near Yosemite 'the perfect hamburger'". SFGATE. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ "The Forks Will Open Saturday in New Building at Bass Lake". Madera Tribune. Vol. 17, no. 227. 1950-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ "Wide Variety Of Resorts In Bass Lake Area". Madera Tribune. Vol. 72, no. 28. 1963-06-21. Retrieved 2023-06-17.