Drakesbad Guest Ranch Receives Award for Excellence in Lodging and Hospitality

NPS Photo

News Release Date: October 23, 2006

Contact: Mary Martin, 530-595-4444 x5101

Drakesbad Guest Ranch at Lassen Volcanic National Park Receives Award for Excellence in Lodging and Hospitality

The Drakesbad Guest Ranch nestled in the remote location of Warner Valley in Lassen Volcanic National Park has received the California Lodging Industry Association’s (CLIA) 2006 Outstanding Lodging Property Award. Drakesbad has persisted as a rustic lodging experience for over 100years and despite the absence of electricity, television sets, telephone and internet access, this 19-room historic resort provides exceptional levels of visitor and guest services. Drakesbad Guest Ranch was established in 1900 and operated by the Sifford family for nearly sixty years before they sold the property to the National Park Service to continue as a guest ranch. Drakesbad is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a cultural landscape and is to be managed and preserved as a historic guest ranch in much of the same fashion that the Sifford family did for sixty years. 

The award was presented to John Koeberer, president of California Parks Company and concessioner for Lassen Volcanic National Park. “This is a well-deserved award for California Parks Company and reflects the care and dedication our park’s concessioner has for our visitors and guests to Drakesbad,” stated Park Superintendent, Mary G. Martin.  

“We’ve been fortunate to have had Ed and Billie Fiebiger as managers of Drakesbad during the past fifteen years. It’s the personal attention they give to our guests that makes the difference,” said Park Concessioner John Koeberer.   At a time when travelers have many options for their vacations, 80% of Drakesbad guests return each year and the property experiences 99% occupancy during July and August. This is a nearly unparalleled record of guest satisfaction which spans generations.

The National Park Service has recently completed the Drakesbad Cultural Landscape Report which documents and describes the significant historic structures and features that make up the Drakesbad historic district. This document will assist park managers in planning and management efforts to preserve this historic resource; you may view this document on the park’s website www.nps.gov/lavo under the “management” link.

For more information, please contact the park at [phone] or for TDD at [phone], Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo.