Resort is like oasis on California's Interstate 5

Few travelers speeding along Interstate 5 nearto maintain all of the various Harris Ranch
Coalinga realize that those cattle they see inbusinesses.
feedlots next to the freeway are actuallyNone of this happened by accident and, in fact,
In-N-Out burgers waiting to be processed. Sure,the Harris Ranch experience has been decades in
everyone knows that burgers come from cattle,the making. The present owner is John Harris,
but did you know In-N-Out burgers come fromwhose father and grandfather were also farmers.
these cattle?In 1937, John's father moved farming operations
That's because the famous California-basedto the San Joaquin Valley. When his father, Jack,
burger chain uses the high-quality beef produceddied in 1981, John took over what was still a
by Harris Ranch, which is really much more than arelatively small operation and turned it into a
feedlot. Drive on down the interstate a piece andmult-million dollar enterprise that now includes
you come to an island of hospitality that featuresseven different businesses that range from beef
a resort-style inn, four restaurants and variousprocessing to raising 35 different farm
tourist services all operated by Harris Ranch.commodities - everything from fruit to nuts.
Just about equidistant from Los Angeles and SanHarris even finds time to indulge his passion,
Francisco - three hours each way - The wordraising thoroughbred horses.
oasis is apt for Harris Ranch; as you're drivingAt the heart of it all is the beef operation which,
along the interstate it seems to come up out ofat any given time, can have between 60,000 and
nowhere. If you've drived north and south along120,000 cattle in the feedlots or being processed
Interstate 5, you know that there are hours ofat a nearby facility. Harris Ranch USDA Choice
boredom driving through the San Joaquin Valley. Anatural beef is distributed throughout the country
few service station-and-fastfood stops appear,and is sold to major chains such as Costco,
but none like the one at Harris Ranch.Albertson's, Safeway and, yes, In-N-Out. Another
Drive into the parking lot at Harris Ranch andgood reason to stop at Harris Ranch is that
what you might have thought was just anothervisitors can buy steaks to take or ship home -
freeway-side motel is actually a resort like youthey come in ice packs to keep cold.
would find in Palm Springs or some other majorThe restaurant began back in 1977, targeting
tourist destination. The Spanish stucco buildingsnothing more than the local farmers who would
surround a dramatic Olympic-size swimming pool.come in and have coffee or a meal now and then.
Add some palm trees and resort-style landscapingBecause of its convenient location on Interstate 5,
and, voila, this becomes much more than anthe restaurant became popular with travelers
overnight rest on your way down the freeway.looking for a rest from a long drive. The
We've gone past Harris Ranch many times, but150-room inn was built in 1987 with the idea that
our curiosity - and a need to break up the drivethe accommodations should be first-rate, but still
from Northern to Southern California - convincedcasual. There's no valet parking, for example, but
us it was time to spend the night at the "ranch."the lobby driveway looks just like one that would
It was a Sunday night and we found the inn filledhave valets. The rooms were designed by John
to much less than capacity. Consequently, weHarris's wife, Carole, who included such features
were swimming in that huge pool all by ourselvesas Ralph Lauren fabrics for curtains and
with only one or two couples poolside at anybedspreads.
given time.The Harris Ranch complex today is like a
Our over-sized room was on the third floormini-shopping center with shops that offer unique
offering a view of the agricultural lands that seemgifts and collectibles, spices and other goods. The
to stretch forever in the San Joaquin Valley. Thebakery is a favorite for travelers who want to
room was not a motel room - it was atake home fresh-baked items all made from
resort-style room with many added amenitiesscratch. And of course there are the usual
and, in fact, enough space to place two recliningtraveler services such as the gas station and
chairs near the television. The beds were big, softSubway sandwich shop, and the not-so-usual
and comfy and yet another tell-tale sign was thefacilities such as the Harris Ranch airport.
fluffy resort-style bathrobes. This was proving toIt all combines to make Harris Ranch much more
be much more than a stop-over; it was athan a beef processor, much more than a
destination all unto itself.farming company, much more than a roadside inn
That's why many California families find Harrisor a restaurant. This little patch of ground along
Ranch an ideal location to meet up with relativesthe freeway really is a small city and travel
from the far northern and southern parts of thedestination all its own - and home to millions of
state. It's a big state so, depending on where youfuture In-N-Out burgers.
and your relatives live, you can each eliminateAT A GLANCE
hours of driving and pamper yourself while youWHERE: Harris Ranch is about 200 miles north of
visit with each other in a resort setting.Los Angeles and 200 miles south of San Francisco
One big benefit of spending time at Harris Ranchon Interstate 5.
is that you can settle in and enjoy one of theWHAT: Not just a rest stop for weary travelers,
best beef dinners you'll ever experience -- withHarris Ranch has grown into a resort community
service to match. The Harris Ranch Steakhouse iswith restaurants, shops and other services. The
a spot to rival even the most expensivewell-manicured grounds even attract many
steakhouses you see in the big cities. When thecouples who decide to book the ranch for their
restaurant owner raises the cattle, the result iswedding functions.
unbelievably tender beef cooked to perfection.WHEN: Year-round, with blue-sky weather in the
Even if we don't have time to spend the night,summer, a little cooler with some potential fog in
we will make a point to return to the Steakhousethe winter.
to sample more cuts of that tasty Harris RanchWHY: Harris Ranch is the perfect spot to break
beef.up a drive between Northern and Southern
The restaurant operation is indeed a major partCalifornia. Sample the Steakhouse Restaurant and
of the Harris Ranch operations. According toyou'll see that Ruth's Chris and other famous
Restaurants and Institution Magazine, Harris issteakhouses have nothing over the sizzling beef
ranked 57th in the nation among high volume,at this out-of-the-way restaurant. The inn is on a
independently owned restaurants. It's the 6thpar with many resort-area properties.
highest in California, and it takes 400 employees