Turns out the owner, Mike Peterson, has been doing BBQ for 38 yrs. Where he learned he doesn’t really know, it just seemed to come naturally to him, and BBQ isn’t his only talent. Open in Oakhurst, CA since only this past May, he also built and designed the whole restaurant, putting many personal touches to it. And, of course, he built the train smoker. At 38 ft. long, it is capable of cooking 9 deer at once. His original plan was to haul the smoker around to festivals, fairs, and shows. However, weighing in at over 20,000 lbs., it quickly became apparent that it needed to stay put.
His Gonzo passion and eye for detail shows in everything he does, ESPECIALLY his BBQ. I ordered a half rack of baby backs along with his homemade beans, and when I took my first bite - wow. BBQ heaven. I have eaten a ton of BBQ in my life, but this was some of the best, bar none, that I have ever had. Kudos Mike, keep up the good work, and I told you that I would say that you put your friends at the Flying Pig BBQ in Denver to shame! They ain’t got nuttin’ on you!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sidehackers
I returned to my home away from home and Saturday night packing went like clockwork. By this time I had developed my system and method for the summer and soon everything was ready for me to head out first thing in the morning. Almost. I stopped in at the KOA office to get my final bag of ice and Jerri, whom I had had the great pleasure of conversing with all week, came out from behind the counter, gave me a hug, and told me she was going to miss me and what a pleasure it had been knowing me. I could have cried and very nearly did. After what I went through with the Mariposa KOA, this was a complete 180 in customer service. It suddenly occurred to me that I was going to miss them too. Everyone that works here - Pam, Ron, Mikaela, Jerri, the yard guys, the cleaning gals, were super. Everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome and at home. The facility, that I had previously stated in my Mariposa post to be a bit rundown, is anything but. The pool and clubhouse are awesome, the grounds and cabins extremely well kept. Great huge laundry room and 2 large restroom and shower buildings. The sites are shady and spaced far apart. One day when I had left the key turned on in the Tahoe my battery had gone dead and they hustled right over with a battery charger like it weren’t no thang. I loved these guys and vowed that I would be back someday. I will even miss my little buddy Josh, the adorable little boy who kept me company so many nights when I walked the dogs, telling me to "follow me, follow me, I'll show you a shortcut!"
In retrospect, staying here instead of at the Mariposa KOA was the best thing that could have happened, in so many ways. It was actually more convenient to Yosemite and the entrance I wanted to go in and out of, I loved the towns of Oakhurst and Coarsegold, which I never would have discovered had I gone the other way, and it also turned out to be closer to the Fresno Pet ER Hospital where I had taken Oogie. My experience here is what camping at KOA’s is supposed to be about, and what I had remembered from my childhood. So thank you, Coarsegold KOA, you guys are the best, and you have renewed my faith in KOA’s. I hope to see you again someday. God bless to you all.
