Review: Casa de Fruta Cabins—Hollister, CA

The story of the Casa de Fruta cabins began in 1908 when the Zanger family’s great-grandparents started selling cherries from a roadside cart. Over the decades, this humble beginning evolved into a thriving orchard and roadside attraction, now spanning over 80 acres in Hollister’s fertile Pacheco Pass Valley.

The Zanger family, still at the helm, capitalized on the area’s agricultural bounty by expanding the original fruit stand and introducing a restaurant and gift shop by the mid-20th century. The addition of the Casa de Choo Choo train in the 1960s, providing guests a tour of the property, and the vintage double-decker Venetian carousel in the 1970s cemented its status as a family-friendly destination. 

The Casa de Fruta’s sprawling complex continued its growth with the addition of the Casa de Wine shop, deli and bakery, Chevron station including a well-stocked store, and Tesla superchargers.

The introduction of cabins in recent years, handcrafted by Amish builders from Pennsylvania, reflects the family’s commitment to blending tradition with modern hospitality. Featuring wooden interiors with polished pine walls and exposed beams, the newly-constructed cabins evoke impressions of a five-star treehouse or luxurious pioneer cabin.

Inside, guests are treated to a private bathroom with a modern shower, air conditioning, and a full kitchen with basic cookware. The amenities extend outdoors to the gated patio complete with a fire pit and Adirondack chairs.

There’s no better spot for a pre-ride morning coffee than sitting outside your cozy cabin listening to the sound of the nearby creek.

Facts & Info

Amenities

• Creekside setting
• Wildlife viewing
• 10,000 Fruit Stand market
• Casa de Sweets candy shop
• Casa de Wine and Deli
• Casa de Restaurant 
• Casa de Gifts gift shop
• Double-decker Venetian carousel
• Casa de Choo Choo Train
• Chevron gas station and store
• Tesla superchargers

Nearby Attractions

• Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
• Pinnacles National Park
• Fremont Peak State Park
• Monterey Bay
• San Juan Bautista State Historic Park
• Hollister Hills OHV area

Nearby Roads

Hollister gained an infamous association with motorcycling due to the famed July 4 riot in 1947. However, this tranquil section of Central California bears little resemblance to the descriptions of mayhem which so drastically affected motorcycle culture nearly 80 years ago. 

Often empty roads and endless, beautiful scenery greet riders coming from almost any direction in or out of this isolated city. Known as the Pacheco Pass Highway, the sweeping curves of SR 152 head east from Hollister through the Pacheco Pass Valley’s rolling hills and orchards. Scenic views can be found of the Diablo Range and San Joaquin Valley while climbing over the pass. 

To the south, rolling hills and rural farmland are divided by the long and usually empty curves of SR 25. For those wanting to get off the pavement, the nearby Hollister Hills OHV area provides miles of trails for motorized travel, and scenic hiking trails can be found farther south in Pinnacles National Park.

Price

6-person cabins from $324/night
Inn rooms from $156/night

Location

Find it at 10021 Pacheco Pass Highway, Hollister, CA