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A Vintage American Experience At A Historic Landmark our nine vintage rooms, 5 mini cabins, our Creekside Chalet, and a single family residence called Hunters Lodge make up this classic roadside motel. It was built in 1939 just after the historic Highway 180 was extended from Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park to Fresno in 1933. The Sierra Inn has been part of the fabric of classic American history for nearly 85 years. In the 1940's the restaurant was added which has been renamed the "Bella Brooke Cafe".
I have a mostly positive review. The staff are really great people. We ate at the restaurant three nights, choosing different entrees, and the food was very good. We looked forward to our dinners. It was exceptionally hot during our stay and the air conditioning held up. The mattress was firm and comfortable. The shower space was tiny with no shelves, and soap and shampoo had to be placed on the top of the toilet tank, but there was on demand hot water. Wifi worked very well. The bed took up most of the room, but we found enough corners for a suitcase and a few bags. It was old but clean.
My biggest negative is that while a simple coffee maker was indeed provided, it was in a tiny room with the air conditioner at the end - and placed on top of an old, non-functioning air conditioner on the wall that was about 6" wide and perhaps 18" long. The coffee maker barely fit on top along with little cups of provided coffee and the usual plastic wrapped coffee service, you know, sugar, creamer, stirring stick. And please, Gena's - where can I put down my coffee cups to fill them up? Where can I put them down to drink them? There was room in that space for some shelving or a small table - but there was nothing there. Since the only flat surface in the entire room was a tiny bedstand on one side of the bed only, and this was filled up immediately with necessary things - just please, the room really needs some flat surfaces.
A second minor negative was that while there was a covered porch and chairs outside the room, they were right in the sun and unusable in the heat. They also faced the parking lot and the main road, so the non-relaxing "view" was across the parking lot and the road to the upper parts of some trees quite a distance away. It's just unfortunate that the room didn't face the other way.
The next-door restaurant had a pleasant porch with outdoor tables (facing the parking lot) that we used each morning to drink our coffee (my husband held the cups while I filled them, and I would scoot ahead and open the door while he took them outside). That was OK with a tiny breeze that made it just tolerable in this heat wave.
The location was good for exploring the parks. We stayed three nights so that we enjoy the parks and not be rushed.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our room had bunk beds and a twin bed. Small room but ok for one night. The beds were comfortable and the room clean. However, We didn't have hot water the duration of the stay. It's right on the road but there is very little traffic after dark so no noise problem. They have regular motel rooms with different bedding setups in each. They also have "tiny houses" as well.
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Date of stay: September 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you’re looking for luxury then drive on by but if you want a safe feeling gentle friendly place this fits the bill. The room was really small as was the bathroom, and everything was ‘hick’ but served it’s purpose nonetheless. We had a one night stay here and ate in the diner next door. The food was really great and fairly priced. And once again the service was friendly and efficient.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:The road might be a wee bit noisy for some, but it didn’t bother us.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christopher John, General Manager at Gena's Sierra Inn And Restaurant
Responded Jul 23, 2023
Thank you!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This place is terrible...except for the rooms, which are shabby but very clean. I was amused when I got a text saying ear plugs were available as we arrived. But after about 2 mins on the property, I understood why: Traffic noise was very loud and the rooms were only about 2 car lengths from the busy roadway. The restaurant was nice but I my heart set on meatloaf but it was gone before we got there. Chicken fried steak & fries were fine, but the green beans seemed like they were fresh...from a can. My wife had Chili but I think that was from a can also. The Michelob Ultra, from a can also, was great. I asked for a bucket of ice and the server said they didn't have ice, the machine was broken. But I noticed at least 3 ice machines in various states of repair on the deck plus several other large appliances strewn about the property. Not very appealing to the eye. The shabbiness of the room was because the floor in bathroom next to the shower was broken and seemed soggy
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Date of stay: June 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed in the tiny houses at Gena’s in February with 7 other people and was surprisingly comfy. We got a special deal through our service program, so we were staying in the tiny rooms in the off season, but the staff at Gena’s was really present and took care of us very well. The rooms are small, but truly comfy and keep warm with the space heaters. It’s obviously fantastically located, but setting up in front of the big TV at the end of the day was always the highlight for me.
The kitchen was a tiny bit cramped, but we got everything to fit and meals went by relatively quick with their air fryer. Overall, super grateful for the deal we got there and the staff couldn’t have been nicer!
If you stay there, say hi to Sven and Sweat Pea, the owner’s adorable dogs!
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Date of stay: February 2023
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Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The location can't be beat for it's close proximity to the North entrance. But this little place is primitive, and if comfort is your main priority, you'd better stay elsewhere. The rooms and bathrooms are extremely small. Bathrooms are the size of a telephone booth. I was horrified to see electrical extension cords nailed to the walls - powering ceiling lights, coffee pots, and air conditioners. One extension cord disappeared into the wall, and powered an outlet in the bathroom! I work with electrical wiring for my livelihood. Use of extension cords like this is illegal in all 50 States. Both rooms we have stayed in have wiring like this. This violates every electrical safety code in North America, and it poses a true hazard to all guests. It's amazing the place hasn't burned down, or someone hasn't been electrocuted. Additionally, one of our rooms had the bathroom sink and shower draining onto the bare dirt behind the wall outside the building. This is another health violation. The doors to the rooms don't seal when closed, so every little noise outside the room, sounds as if it's inside the room with you. I will say that the staff were very friendly and helpful, which we all truly appreciated. I'm certain that trying to run a hotel like this is a massive challenge for the owners. In spite of this, the safety of guests must be the top priority, and the illegal use of extension cords and other unsafe wiring is irresponsible and negligent.
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Date of stay: April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We really wanted to like our stay here. We love staying at local mom and pop places when we travel. This place was a lot worse than we expected. Check-in was easy, but everything else was not up to par. The grounds looks like some thing from a homeless camp in Los Angeles. There were campers and mobile homes on the property. The room was supposed to be air-conditioned but all it had was tiny air conditioner replacing the window in the bathroom to cool the entire room. I would bet the room never got below 80°. The beds were old and you could feel the springs. My wife couldn’t sleep for the entire stay because of the bed. The highway noise at night was tolerable with the provided ear plugs. Lastly we were looking forward to cooling off in the pool after hiking in the heat. The pool was empty with some plants in it. The pool was one of the reasons we booked. I would not recommend staying here.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The cabins were super cute and comfy! The check in instructions were very easy and check out was very simple. I highly recommend this spot for anyone traveling to the Sequoia National Park or wants a nice getaway. The restaurant was a nice quick dinner and has a few souvenirs that you can purchase.
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Date of stay: August 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. In the Hunters Lodge The spacious accommodation was as advertised in photos. It was clean The beds were super comfy. The kitchen had everything we needed to prepare a meal and eat in. Our meal at the restaurant was very good. We ordered the pot roast and it was home made tasting
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
To be fair, I was unable to stay here so cannot actually review the experience/accommodations. I was traveling with my elderly mother and she did not find the room/location suitable for her needs. That said, the hotel was extremely gracious and accommodating regarding our change of plans. They were generous with their refund policy and that meant a lot to me.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Dunlap area.
PRICE RANGE
$83 - $109 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sierra hotel squaw valley
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaDunlap
NUMBER OF ROOMS
16
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including any mandatory fees. Taxes not included. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Gena's Sierra Inn And Restaurant
Which popular attractions are close to Gena's Sierra Inn And Restaurant?
Nearby attractions include Project Survival's Cat Haven (0.4 miles), Boole Tree Trail (1.6 miles), and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1.5 miles).
