Rate –
Size –
3 Bedrooms • 4 Bathrooms (3 full, 1 half) 4 Baths (3 full, 1 half) • Sleeps 1-10SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS
The Chesa Madrisa is a beautiful vacation home nestled in the quiet neighborhood of Big Trees Village in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, and resides at approximately 5,000 feet elevation. Featuring 3 bedrooms & 3.5 bathrooms, this Swiss inspired mountain home is best suited for a maximum of 10 guests (6 adults max).
This home has been well-run as a vacation rental for over 10 years with an experienced owner and a high attention to detail to ensure that your vacation is memorable for all the right reasons. The Chesa Madrisa offers an elevated experience for guests with high quality finishes and amenities.
PREMIUM FEATURES
- 3 bedrooms each with king size bed & plush mattress topper
- 3 bedrooms each have private attached full bathroom
- Siemens VersiCharge LVL 2 Universal Electric Vehicle Charger
- Top of the line kitchen gear, from silverware to Vitamix Blender - it's all there!
- High quality linens & towels
- Kitchen & all 4 bathrooms feature Williams-Sonoma hand soaps
- Electrolux full size washer & dryer
- Dual zones heat & gas fireplace on main level
- Central AC cools main level to 75-80 degrees + lower level bedrooms stay cooler
- Three smart/Roku TVs - bring your logins
- 2 car garage with fairly level driveway & snow plow service in winter months
- Kids Toy Closet filled with games & activities
- Large kitchen + pantry enables plenty of room to unpack groceries & cook
- Built-in Generac automatic whole home generator
- Full size toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap) + basket of extras
- All paper products provided - no running to the grocery to buy toilet paper on vacation
- Wifi thermostat so the home will be heated upon arrival in cool weather
- Dusk-to-Dawn exterior lights so you don't have to fumble with a lock box in the dark
- Outdoor cameras to see screen shots of current weather - handy in winter months!
- Golden Poppy Pass for entry to Big Trees State Park
- Sno-Park Pass for access to local winter trails & sledding areas
- Big Trees Village Rec Center - Highest level of membership for free access to summer pool
- Pool towels for neighborhood pool Memorial Day to Labor Day
VACATION ELEVATED
At the Chesa Madrisa guests will experience a high level of service every step of the way. This home is family owned + managed with a great team of boots on the ground locally. Just relax, kick up your feet & enjoy the mountains in this amazing home.
LOCATION
This area is a great escape - fresh air & quiet solitude, with easy access to fun activities. The neighborhood of Big Trees Village borders Big Trees State Park, just north of the town of Arnold, and approximately halfway between Bear Valley Ski Resort & the town of Murphys. Columbia & Angels Camp are also popular attractions. Avoid the crowds of Tahoe and enjoy relaxation just a 3-4 hour drive from the Bay Area, and just over 2 hours from the Sacramento airport.
LAYOUT
The Chesa Madrisa opens to an inviting sitting area with tall windows and double-sided gas fireplace. This main level of the home features a half-bathroom, mudroom for ski gear, and a well-appointed kitchen overlooking the main living area & oversized sectional couch. The kitchen opens to the dining area with table for six, which can be enlarged to accommodate ten guests. The dining area overlooks a TV area with patio access including Weber propane tank grill and outdoor table & chairs.
The Chesa Madrisa comfortably accommodates up to ten guests (six adults max). All three bedrooms are on the lower level & each has a king size bed and private full bath. The 1st bedroom also has a set of twin bunk beds for children. There are also two full sized cots for children (twin bed size) to be placed by parents wherever they prefer. Many families have enjoyed multi-generational vacations at the Chesa Madrisa with grandparents in the far bedroom with a walk in shower, parents in the middle bedroom, and children all bunking up together in the 1st bedroom. The Chesa Madrisa does not accommodate more than six adult guests.
The Chesa Madrisa has a two-car garage & covered footbridge with steps leading from the garage to the main entry. The driveway is not steep, and in the winter snow season it is plowed with each fresh snowfall. There's no better place to hunker down during an exciting snowstorm!
KITCHEN - A CHEF'S DREAM!
- KitchenAid Double Wall Oven
- Breville Mini Oven
- Breville Microwave
- Set of Le Creuset Ceramic Bakeware + Dutch Oven
- Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee & Espresso Maker
- Keurig
- Krups Coffee Bean Grinder
- Mr. Coffee
- Cuisinart Coffee Maker
- Le Creuset French Press
- Le Creuset Tea Kettle
- Williams-Sonoma Pots & Pans
- Bialetti Hot Chocolate Maker
- KitchenAid Standing Mixer
- Vitamix blender
- KitchenAid Double Belgian Waffle Baker
- Black + Decker Electric Pancake Griddle
- All-Clad 7 Quart Slow Cooker
- Instant-Pot Pressure Cooker
- Williams-Sonoma Wok
- Crate & Barrel Aspen Place Settings
- Crate & Barrel Wine Glasses
- Bosch 3 Row Dishwasher
- Fondue + Raclette Sets
- Everything you need to cook a Thanksgiving feast!
FAMILY FRIENDLY
The Chesa Madrisa is outfitted with many activities to keep the younger crew busy while the adults relax. The lower level of the Chesa Madrisa has a fun red couch & TV area with Smart TV, karaoke machine and a closet full of toys, puzzles, Legos, Brio trains, arts & crafts, dollhouse, play kitchen, and board games galore. The closet in the 1st bedroom has a Baby Bjorn Portable Crib, Baby Bjorn Babysitter, diaper changing pad, Cloud B Twilight Ladybug nightlight, bath toys, step stool & red dinosaur humidifier. The dining room pantry has a high chair-booster combo seat for infants & toddlers.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Central AC typically cools main level to 75-80 degrees + lower level bedrooms stay cooler
- Dogs are welcome with advanced permission and pet fee
- Exterior Cameras: Nest Outdoor Cam & Nest Hello Doorbell record exterior audio + video
- Inquiries are added to quarterly newsletter and may opt out with single click at any time
- This is a no smoking property both inside + outside
- Sleeps 6 adults max + 4 children
- Twin bunk beds + two twin cots are intended for children
- The Chesa Madrisa is managed by the owner with help from a great set of boots on the ground locally
- Welcome Packet with key code for lockbox and detailed directions will be sent a couple days in advance
- Entire home is accessible with the exception of 3 locked closets
- 2 car garage is fully accessible and available to guests for parking
- 2 large cars typically fit in the garage
- The garage has an EV charger (Tesla owners, bring your adapter)
YEAR ROUND ACTIVITIES
Big Trees is amazing in all seasons with a wide variety of outdoor activities. Winter is a great time to check out Bear Valley, a friendly & relaxing ski resort in the Central Sierra Mountains just 21 miles further up scenic Highway 4. Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling & sledding opportunities abound. Due to liability our insurance does not allow us to provide sleds for guests, so feel free to bring along or rent up on the mountain.
Summer is an enjoyable time for activities such as fishing, kayaking, bicycling, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding and swimming at Union & Utica Reservoirs, as well as Lake Alpine & White Pines Lake. Feel free to borrow our folding backpack chairs - there are 6 in the garage for guests. The Chesa Madrisa offers the premium level of membership at Big Trees Village Recreation Center, which includes swimming at the neighborhood outdoor pool Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Rec Center also has a picnic area, frisbee golf & bocce court.
Hiking is a fun activity no matter the time of year - just throw on your snow shoes in the winter! Feel free to borrow the Golden Poppy Pass from the Chesa Madrisa to enjoy complimentary access for one car to Calaveras Big Trees State Park and marvel at the giant Sequoia trees. Hikers should check out the nearby Arnold Rim Trail.
Year round the nearby town of Murphys is the perfect destination for guests who enjoy one of a kind shops, nice restaurants, and wine tasting. This historical mining town in the Sierra Nevada foothills is now well known for excellent wineries and its charming Main Street lined with boutiques. Pack a picnic, or grab a sandwich from Aria or Alchemy in Murphys, and then head to the picnic tables by the creek and let the kids enjoy the playground. There's even a bocce court! The 1st Saturday every October is the annual Calaveras Grape Stomp & the Annual Gold Rush Street Faire. In March, Murphys Irish Day features a parade and entertainment all along Main Street.
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park
- Bear Valley Ski Resort
- Bear Valley Adventure Company - BVXC - equipment rental for year round outdoor activities
- Sierra Nevada Adventure Company - SNAC - equipment rental for year round outdoor activities (Arnold location is closest to the Chesa Madrisa)
- Lake Alpine - our personal favorite lake further up Highway 4
- Murphys
- Go Calaveras - local site with current events
- Angels Camp - home to Frog Jubilee & Mark Twain Festival
- Stanislaus River - rafting & fishing
- Mercer Caverns
- Columbia State Historic Park - Historic Gold Rush Town
- Union & Utica Reservoirs - summer recreational water activities
- Spicer Reservoir
- SnoParks - winter sledding & snowshoeing etc...
- White Pines Lake - a small lake & closest public lake
- Arnold Rim Trail - hike, ride, bike, run
- Sierra Nevada Logging Museum
- Big Trees Village Recreation Center - summer activities
- SWS Mountain Guides - climbing expeditions for children & adults near Bear Valley
- Lube Room Saloon - our favorite local restaurant with a fun vibe + good treats
- Newsome Harlow Winery
3-D VIRTUAL TOUR
click here for link to virtual tour
SAVE MONEY BY BOOKING DIRECTLY
Did you find the Chesa Madrisa on VRBO or Airbnb and then come across this website? Welcome! This is the best priced website for booking directly with the owner. Fees added by Airbnb & VRBO are approximately 15% and can be skipped by booking directly here. Booking directly on this website gives you direct contact information, more flexibility with changes, the lowest overall cost & easiest booking experience. #bookdirect
About the Owner
I'm Hillary Gibson, and I am the Family Property Manager of the Chesa Madrisa, LLC - this is our family vacation home, built by my grandparents in 2001. I live in Lake Oswego, just outside of Portland, Oregon with my husband, son and pup. I am readily available to guests via email, text, or phone & I have a great team on the ground in Big Trees if needed. This is our well loved family vacation home, and not a generic investment rental property. If you're looking for a home that values quality over quantity, then you are in the right place. Our goal is not to get "heads in beds" - we look forward to hosting families who appreciate the extra amenities and will enjoy our home as if it were their own special retreat. As a frequent guest of vacation homes with my husband & son, I have tried to outfit the Chesa Madrisa with every item I've ever found to be lacking in other homes - nothing has been overlooked here! Guests enjoy the Chesa Madrisa layout because all three bedrooms have their own private bathroom, and the rest of the home has plenty of room to spread out and relax. The Chesa Madrisa is our family's vacation home. I also manage our own beach cottage at the Oregon Coast, up in the village of Neskowin. Check out Breakers End if you're looking for an historic cottage that has been fully renovated. www.breakersend.comAmenities
| Property Type | Chalet |
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| Check-In | Lockbox |
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| Bathrooms |
4 Bathrooms (3 full, 1 half)
4 Baths (3 full, 1 half)
All bathrooms feature premium Williams-Sonoma hand soap & hand lotion, as well as plush towels. There is also complimentary full size shampoo, conditioner, body wash & bar soap. All commodes are Kohler comfort height. |
| Sleeping Arrangements |
3 Bedrooms,
sleeps 1-10
The maximum occupancy is 6 ADULTS and 10 total guests. We would like all of our guests to have a wonderfully relaxing stay, therefore the Chesa Madrisa can not comfortably accommodate more than 6 adults. There is a complimentary Baby Bjorn pack-n-play for infants & toddlers. All king size beds feature premium sheets & supreme cushion mattress pads. All bedrooms have full attached bathrooms. All bedrooms have 1 closet for guest use as well as one dresser. Bedroom #3 has an exterior door with access to dog run. |
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Registration
- Registration Number
- 224 TOT Calaveras Business License