You know the name. Now discover something more.

If you’ve driven Highway 49 through Ahwahnee, chances are you’ve passed the entrance to Sierra Meadows without giving it much thought.

For many people, it’s simply a place where Yosemite visitors spend the night. But behind the entrance is a destination that many locals may not realize exists—a peaceful village of tiny cabins surrounded by open space, walking paths, ponds, and a story that stretches back more than a century.

That’s exactly why Sierra Meadows is the first feature in Sierra News Online’s new Discovering Local series, highlighting the people, places, businesses, and experiences that make our mountain communities unique.

Located just minutes from Oakhurst and about 20 miles from Yosemite National Park’s South Entrance, Sierra Meadows has quietly become a favorite home base for visitors exploring Yosemite, Bass Lake, and the Sierra foothills. But what many people don’t realize is that the property itself has become part of the experience.

Guests can wander paved walking paths that wind through open meadows, past ponds and creeks, and among sculptures scattered throughout the landscape. Complimentary bicycles encourage visitors to slow down and explore, while the tiny cabin accommodations offer a different pace than the traditional hotel experience. It’s a place designed to help guests unplug and enjoy the Sierra rather than simply pass through it.

Local Discovery

Long before Sierra Meadows welcomed guests in its modern cabins, this property played a very different role in the history of the mountain area.

In the late 1800s, the land was known as Four Tears Ranch, serving travelers making the long journey toward Yosemite. In the days of stagecoaches and horse-drawn wagons, stops like this offered weary travelers a place to rest before continuing into the mountains.

As the region grew, so did the property. Many longtime residents remember it as the Ahwahnee golf course, where generations of locals gathered for tournaments, weekend rounds, and community events. For decades, it was a familiar landmark and gathering place for mountain residents.

Today, while the golf course itself is gone, the spirit of the property remains. The former fairways have been transformed into open space, walking trails, ponds, and places to pause and enjoy the scenery—giving new life to a location that has welcomed visitors for well over a century.

Perhaps that’s what makes Sierra Meadows such a fitting first stop in the Discovering Local series.

Sometimes discovering something new doesn’t mean finding a place you’ve never heard of. Sometimes it simply means seeing a familiar place in a different light.

The next time you drive past the entrance to Sierra Meadows, you’ll know there’s more to the story than first meets the eye. And that’s exactly what Discovering Local is all about.

Discovering Local

You know the name. Now discover something more.

Know a business, organization, or destination in the mountain communities with an interesting story, a unique feature, or something that might surprise even longtime locals? Let us know. It may be featured in a future edition of Discovering Local.