Gay Yosemite Camping Camp Dude

The Camp Dude Compound

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:05:27 -0700

Camp Dude is a very special place in the Sierra foothills. It’s the home and creative studios for Jeff and Lucky. We’re a half hour from the west entrance to Yosemite National Park. The 5 acre property sits at 2,800 ft elevation and is set back via a half mile drive and is surrounded on 3 sides by federal land. The acreage tiers down to a vortex where the original gold mine is located. The gold fevered original owner claimed the mine as The Spanish Bit. We don’t know if he ever found any gold but maybe someday we’ll stumble across a nugget. There is a quartz vein bubbling from the earth leading to the mine.

As you come onto the property you’ll see the building site for the pool house. We decided that it made sense to build the pool first, and we were right. We have had a blast swimming and playing music up there. The gallery structure will take a couple more years to complete.

About another 2 acres down the drive is the residence. It’s a late 50’s cement block number that we have nearly completely remodeled - from collapsing ceilings and missing windows transformed into a comfy country home.

Behind the house is a great outdoor slate patio and barbeque area. In the summer the back acre is busy with a very prolific vegetable garden and beyond that are grapes, pears and apples. Down below is an old barn with a loft where Lucky constructs wood oddities from recycled wood and found objects.

Finally, below the barn is the old mine.

The terrain here is rugged. There are plenty of old oaks, manzanita and pines. The soil is a rich red with chunky rock outcroppings. We get 4 full seasons: Winter is cold with occasional snow; Spring comes in big bursts with crisp to warm weather and a parade of hundreds of bulbs and wildflowers; Summer is hot, hot, hot and the pool is the savior; Autumn is wildly colorful and the weather perfect for harvesting the fruit trees and the ritualistic blackberry jam making.

We live happily with our dog Dexter and the cats Andy and Edie.

Are you itching to find a quiet place to finish that book, paint...

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:10:00 -0700

Are you itching to find a quiet place to finish that book, paint that masterpiece, host your yoga retreat, or grow a prize tomato? At Camp Dude we’ve created a spot that seems to bring out the best in artists. From time to time we host visiting artists to get their art on.

If you have a creative idea about what you could bring to this piece of heaven write to jeff (at) campdude (dot) com and propose your project. We usually host one artist for a summer project and it just might be you.

Jeff and Lucky

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:57:00 -0700

Hi, We’re Jeff and Lucky, the sometime residents and masterminds behind the Camp Dude experience. The last time we hosted artists we were on Kauai operating The Aloha Dude Vacation Rentals and The Aloha Dude Internet Hut. It was a blast and when we set to work on this remote mountain retreat we kept the remodeling of the existing house and the “in process” creation of a pool house with visitors in mind.

Jeff is a painter and gardener. Lucky crafts objects from recycled wood.

We love the mountains and Yosemite. Lucky spent 15 years working in the park, including the beautiful Ahwahnee Hotel, and Jeff worked for the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village.

When we’re not in the mountains we’re in San Francisco wreaking havoc on the local population.

Yodelley-ho,

Jeff and Lucky

visit on flickr

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:01:00 -0700

visit on flickr

Guest Testimonials

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:46:00 -0700

Makanakai Simson

I have visited Camp Dude five times and I have always had a good time.

I just wanted to say that Camp Dude is a wonderful place to swim, take a hike or lay in the sun for hours. You can relax and get away from your painful work. You can play with Dexter the dog. Jeff and Lucky make good barbeque food. I had so much fun that i would come back again and again.

Sincerely,

Makanakai Simson

Nate and Duncan

CampDude is the place to stay for those moments when you need to sit in the hammock, survey the serenity of the national park and read a good book, or watch mars attacks. The visually stunning house blends mountain architecture with cutting edge vintage retro chic furniture. You’ll find yourself listening to NPR in the mornings with your coffee, and Elvis by night while supping on one of Jeff’s margaritas.

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Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:21:00 -0700

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