The Camp Dude Compound

Camp Dude is situated off of Highway 140, 7 miles east of Mariposa (map). Another 20 miles and you are at the west entrance to Yosemite National Park. The 5 acre property sits at around 3,000 foot elevation. It is set back via a 1/2 mile drive and is surrounded on 3 sides by federal land, ensuring a pretty darn private experience. 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 had a blast swimming and playing music up there last summer in the midst of the construction. The structure will take a couple more years to complete.


About another 2 acres down the drive is the Camp Dude residence. It's a late 50's cement block number that we have nearly completely remodeled - from collapsing ceilings and missing windows to 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 grapes, pears and apples. Down below is an old barn with a loft that Eddie the cat hangs out in when the world gets too busy. 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 over 400 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.