welcome to
The sunset stables Room
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR STAY!
The Sunset Room is a tribute to Zee (Smith) Varian's family legacy. Her father, mother and five siblings were at the heart of the equine world in Los Angeles, operating numerous riding stables and producing Wild West Shows and Rodeos during the heyday of the Hollywood western.
THE BASICS:
WIFI
Network: Parkfield Lodge Wifi
Password: V6Parkfield
BREAKFAST
Breakfast will be served in the Parkfield Lodge Gathering Room around 8am
CHECK OUT TIME
Check out is at 12 noon
Amenities
Make yourself at home and enjoy the following amenities
OUTDOOR
POOL
HOT TUB
BBQ PIT
FIRE PIT
TREE HOUSE
GAZEBO
PING PONG TABLE
LARGE PORCH
EXPANSIVE SHADED GRASS AREA
THE PEACE AND QUIET OF A ONE BLOCK TOWN
INDOOR
GATHERING ROOM WITH COUCH SEATING
LIBRARY
FIREPLACE
KITCHENETTE WITH:
TOASTER OVEN
REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER
MICROWAVE
HOT PLATE
COFFEE MAKER
Parkfield Cafe
BURGERS, STEAKS & MORE COOKED OVER AN OPEN OAK BBQ
Spring, Summer & Fall Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
Friday: 11:30am to 9:00pm
Saturday: 11:30am to 9:00pm
Sunday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
Winter Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 11:30am to 7:00pm
Friday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
Saturday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
Sunday: 11:30am to 7:00pm
Please note that room service is not available.
Art & Materials
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Paintings
All of the paintings in this room were done by local artist, Jill Duncan. They are paintings of old photos of the Smith Family, Zee Varian’s family, who owned and ran Sunset Stables in Culver City.
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Beds
The beds were designed and built by John Varian using repurposed redwood.
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Railing
The top rails of the railing are made from old horse corral boards from Creston, CA. You’ll notice the boards are uneven from being chewed on by horses over the years. The rest of the railing is redwood bridge timber from the original bridges on the road between Parkfield and the V6 Ranch.
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Flooring
The flooring in this room was salvaged from the USO gymnasium in Paso Robles.
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Tin
The tin on the countertops and paintings was originally from a dairy barn in the San Joaquin Valley.
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Barn Door
The barn door was salvaged from the East Coast.
History
In 1929, Jute Smith, father of V6 Ranch matriarch Zee Varian, bought a few acres of land in Culver City, right off of Slauson Avenue, and started the original Sunset Ranch. The Ranch was home to rodeo shows, a Quarter Horse race track, wild west shows, hay rides, barn dances and more. At these stables city kids became cowboys and cowgirls, including Pro-Rodeo Hall of Famer Cotton Rosser, Cowgirl Hall of Famer Audrey Griffin and many more. Here Zee Smith Varian and her six siblings grew up performing in wild west shows, taking out trail rides and hay rides, and living a truly western life in what is now deeply urban Los Angeles.
In 1954 developers pushed Jute out of his Culver City location but he soon found a piece of land already horse occupied in a little canyon at the top of Beachwood Drive, under the famous Hollywood Sign. The stable was originally intended for the wealthy inhabitants of the Hollywoodland subdivision however when the depression hit the stable was quiet for many years. Jute took over the stable from Bertha Mann in 1952, leased it out for two years and began running it in 1954. In 1970, his son, Steve Smith took over the ranch to turn it into a thriving business. In 1995 Stephen Smith Jr. took over for his father and owns the stable to this day. Today the stable still thrives, taking out trail rides under the Hollywood Sign and featuring in many movies and shows.
About the brand
The Sunset Stables Room is marked with the “Sunset” brand. This was the iconic Smith family brand for Sunset Stables in Culver City.
Cattle brands are the only way to show legal ownership over cattle in California. Similar to a family crest, cattle brands symbolize the family and are often passed down over several generations. Brands help tell the story of our community, so each room in the Parkfield Lodge is marked with a local brand.
local history
Oak Street, Parkfield 1912
FAQs
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A reservation at the Parkfield Lodge does not grant you access to the V6 Ranch.
The V6 Ranch is first and foremost a working cattle ranch so guest activities are all guided and available on a limited basis.
To gain access to the V6 Ranch join us for one of our Ranch Rides. See available rides here or inquire about a private trail ride (limited availability).
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The Parkfield Lodge is 2.5 miles from the V6 Ranch in the one block town of Parkfield, population 18.
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Parkfield is a place to kick off your boots and relax. Enjoy our pool and hot tub, sit around the fire pit, BBQ on our expansive grounds, go for a walk or cycle down our quiet country roads, read a book in front of the fireplace in the Gathering Room, or sit on the porch and just be.
There are over 200 species of birds living in our towering Valley Oaks and golden meadows creating a symphony of birdsong. Parkfield enjoys very limited light pollution so the star gazing from the hot tub is spectacular. The Parkfield Coalinga Grade climbs over 1000 feet in just a few miles, providing a spectacular perch to watch the sunset.
Join us on the V6 Ranch for one of our Ranch Rides. See available rides here or inquire about a private trail ride (limited availability).
Parkfield is a place to unplug and be present.
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Outdoor Adventure
Join us on the V6 Ranch for one of our Ranch Rides (see available rides here) or inquire about a private trail ride (limited availability).Neighboring ranches also offer the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Central Coast.
- Work Family Ranch - San Miguel, CA
- Lazy Arrow Adventures - Santa Margarita, CAExplore the Beautiful Central Coast
Parkfield provides a great base to explore the stunning Central Coast. Here are some of our favorite day trips:
- Paso Robles Wine Country
- San Miguel Mission
- Scenic Highway 1
- San Luis Obispo
- Hearst Castle
- Pinnacles National Park
- Pismo BeachHunting
Parkfield’s surrounding landscapes are home to thriving populations of Wild Hogs, Black Tailed Deer, Turkeys, Dove, Quail and more. Go hunting with one of the expert guides in the Parkfield Area.
- Miller Brothers Expeditions - Parkfield, CA
- Boaring Experiences - Parkfield, CA
- Camp Five Outfitters - San Miguel, CA -
The Parkfield Cafe is open Thursday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
Spring, Summer & Fall Hours:
- Thursday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
- Friday: 11:30am to 9:00pm
- Saturday: 11:30am to 9:00pm
- Sunday: 11:30am to 8:00pmWinter Hours:
- Thursday: 11:30am to 7:00pm
- Friday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
- Saturday: 11:30am to 8:00pm
- Sunday: 11:30am to 7:00pmWe are open year round except for the following dates:
- The month of December
- New Years Day
- Easter Sunday
- The 4th of July -
A continental breakfast will be prepared for you each morning and put out in the Gathering Room around 8:00am. The breakfast includes a fresh baked pastry and fruit.
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Cancelation Policy:
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until ten (10) days prior to your date of arrival. If you cancel with less than ten (10) days notice, we will do our best to re-sell the room(s). If we are not able to re-sell the room(s), we will access a fee of one night plus tax (for the first night of your reservation).Pet Policy:
Well behaved pets are allowed for an additional fee of $30 per pet. Maximum of two pets. Pets must be well trained and controlled by their owner. Any damage to the room caused by your pet(s) will result in additional charges. There is an 80-pound weight limit per pet. By law, dogs may not be left unattended in rooms.No Party Policy:
To ensure the comfort of all guests as well as our neighbors, parties are not allowed at the Parkfield Lodge or on its grounds.Please understand that if other guests or neighbors are disturbed due to excessive noise, management reserves the right to ask everyone to vacate the premises and any refund of room rate will be forfeited at that time.
You may also incur a fee of $500.00 as a disturbance charge.
Additional Policies:
Rooms are double occupancy and subject to 10.5% hotel tax plus $1 tourism tax per night per room.Additional persons limited to specific rooms, are assessed a $25 per night fee. Kids under 18 are free.
Designated weekends require a minimum two-night stay for Friday and Saturday night.
Learn about other rooms
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The Cowboy Cabin
The Cowboy Cabin has a king size bedroom and a bedroom with two twin beds. This cabin has a large living room, breakfast nook, spacious bathroom, and a private porch with a table, chairs and two rocking chairs. It's very warm, inviting and perfect for a family.
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The Water Tower
The Water Tower was built at the turn of the 20th Century. It was the main water supply for the bustling town of Parkfield. Now guests have the rare opportunity to stay in this beautiful building. This room boasts first-class amenities, a walk-in granite shower, and two stories with a queen bed and cable tv on each level.
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The Post Office
In 1907 this building was drug into place by a team of 14 horses and was used as the Parkfield Post Office for decades. Today is serves as a cozy getaway, with two bedrooms, a living area, a luxurious bathroom with a stone walk-in shower, and a front porch on Main Street Parkfield.
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The Yokut Room
The Yokut Room is a tribute to the Native American's who lived on the lands of the Cholame Valley. The Yokut Room has a king size bed and a stone walk in shower.
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Brinan Ranch Room
The Brinan Ranch Room is a tribute to the Brinan Family of San Ardo, CA, about an hour north of Parkfield. The Brinan Ranch Room has two queen size beds and a loft.
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Diablo Range Room
Dedicated to the landscape and animals that give us this unique area of California. The Diablo Range Room has a queen size bed and two twin beds in the loft area.
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Sunset Stables Room
The Sunset Room is a tribute to Zee (Smith) Varian's family legacy who were at the heart of the equine world in Los Angeles, operating numerous riding stables and producing Wild West Shows and Rodeos around the area. Sunset Stable Room has two queen beds.
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The Tool Room
This charming and cozy room is decorated with vintage tools that were once used and collected here on the V6 Ranch. The king bed frame was made by Jack Varian using various parts of equipment and tools. The Tool Room has a king size bed.
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Varian Ranch Room
The Varian Ranch Room honors the cattle that make up our livelihood here on the V6. This room is spacious with tall ceilings, a loft, a queen bed and two twin beds.
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The Cholame Ranch Room
The Cholame Ranch Room honors the Cholame ranch that contains the only completed intact Mexican Land Grant from the early 1800's. Hardwood floors and beautiful log work give this room a warm feel. The Cholame Ranch Room has two queen size beds.
