I absolutely love this adorable private resort. We've been there for weekend getaways and attended a wedding. Valerie is so sweet. My kids call her Grandma Val. read more

Sparks Ranch Resort - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Sonora, California

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This stay was a veritable Garden of Eden! My fiancé and I have been to many places for weekends away or family vacations in the last two years but Sparks Ranch ranks among the best experiences and settings yet! The owner is positively lovely and so very personable. She was more than accommodating to our every need! She was great with communication and kind to us. She treated my kids like they were her own. The grounds are surrounded by stunning nature and is steeped in history. We got a fun tour when we first arrived and we were all amazed by the clean and well maintained property. Our beds were so comfortable and we slept very well. My kids want to make visiting Sparks Ranch a regular annual experience and we are more than happy to oblige them! read more

I've looked back here every once in a while and it makes me so mad to see that more and more people are being fooled by this woman. She single handedly ruined most of my wedding and wanted it to be her day. The biggest part was empty promises selling you on a brunch no one has seemed to have gotten. Tell me "val" why did we come to a dirty venue with old beer bottles and a dirty pool from the weekend prior after paying you 14,000 dollars? I hope everyone who considers a wedding there backs away, and to everyone who's gone and had their wedding there like me and didn't get back their deposit for a random reason, got lied too, and didn't get what we were promised from this crook we should all get together and sue this night crawler. Oh yea did I mention she spends her evening trying to sleep with married guests at your wedding? This lady is beyond insane. STAY FAR FAR FAR AWAY. LISTEN TO THE REVIEWS AND SPEND YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE.PLEASE! read more

I had a wonderful stay at Sparks Ranch Resort! Val was an amazing host. She was so welcoming and friendly, which truly made me feel at home and so comfortable (I slept so well too!). The property is stunning and leaves a magical impression on you. Photos do not do this special place justice; you have to visit it and experience it for yourself. I'm definitely planning to come back soon! read more

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Beware. Property is very tired, landscaping overgrown, dead potted plants abound, hot tub is a swamp, roof needs repair... must have been lovely 20 years ago. The owner will promise you anything and deliver nothing except what was once a lovely property. She did not honor our contract for exclusive use of property for a celebration of life luncheon and exclusive rental of rooms and guest house. She rented the guesthouse to someone else during our "exclusive time" offering no refund of $800 paid for these rooms and the full kitchen we no longer had. She said "honey you got a good deal". We did not. Paying $200 per room per night for such tired space was not a good deal. Our Memorial Luncheon was always for 50-75 people ... she lied that we had said it would only be 20 people. Not true... our family alone is over 30 people. Sadly we had a no refundable deposit or we would have changed venues after 3 local catered told us they would no longer work with Val Sparks... "too stressful". Our celebration of life luncheon turned out to be a beautiful celebration ... after we scrubbed and cleaned...ignoring the dead plants, lack of landscapers, cleaners etc. We also begged a great caterer to help us and the food was a wonderful success! Very sad situation. BEWARE... many lies and stories. I'm sure, like the other many negative reviews that she will have a dishonest response below... do not believe it. read more

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I wish I could give no stars because my experience was horrible. My daughter picked Sparks Ranch as her wedding venue. Promises were made by the owner and 2 months before the wedding, the owner said, in a text message, that she could not accommodate the promises. A mad scramble to find a new venue, new caterers, new hotel accommodations, etc, etc. You get the idea. The owner has not returned the deposit and small claims court is the next step. read more

Don't waste your money or time here! She sells lies ! Paid 14,000 to show up and had clean up after another wedding or party. The pool was murky and my family had to clean it. Lady is always in the way and is RUDE. So many of my guests were put off by the owner . Listen to the reviews there's a really off energy about this lady and her so called resort read more

In March 2019, my then fiancé and I, went to Sparks Ranch for a tour and we fell in love instantly. The owner, Valerie, was welcoming, kind and very passionate about making our day special. The grounds were stunning and the house was so charming!! Not to mention the smokin deal of three days on site and rooms to stay in. We signed our contract right there and then. Shortly after, we asked for some suggestions on vendors that were used to working at Sparks Ranch. Valerie was more than accommodating and provided us with Skye Ruggieri of Lila and Sage catering. Skye was incredible and with her menu, she had a list of preferred vendors she worked with regularly. From that point on, everything fell into place and we were ready for our big day on 10/10/2020. Fast forward to summer 2020 and we decided to postpone our big day because COVID was preventing us from having the wedding of our dreams. The first person we called was Valerie. She assured us that the date the following year was ours and asked no questions about postponing the wedding one year. She understood and calmed this very disappointed couple. All of our vendors followed suit. All of the people we wanted on board, were on board. Our A-Team, (Valerie, Skye, Susan at Sweet Lilac, TJ at Sound Extreme and Hanna at HannaJeanne Photo) kept in touch with us throughout the year so that when it was finally time for the wedding we deserved, it was as if no time had passed and all of the details fell into place perfectly. The sun shined through the trees at the perfect moment, making them twinkle, just like Valerie promised. Our guests kept telling us the day was magical and how comfortable and relaxed they were at Sparks Ranch. We had the perfect day. We couldn't be more grateful to Valerie for starting the connections that led to everything else falling into place. We couldn't say enough "thank yous" to all of our vendors. read more

Sparks Ranch Resort - Sparks Ranch Resort - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Sonora, California

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This place is absolutely gorgeous! We were invited here for a private event (birthday party). There were a total of 4 families in our party staying here. We utilized the main house and the guest house. The rooms were great. Every room has a full bath. The tubs are humungous. The beds were made out nicely. We had a mini fridge in our room. Lots of towels were provided. The pool area was very lovely! We had brought the BBQ grill down from the guesthouse to the pool area and BBQ'd poolside which made it even better! It's very private and safe! Our children wandered by themselves and we didn't have to worry about them. The kids ranged from 2 to 15 year olds. The ease of going from the main house to the guest house was awesome! I rated Sparks Ranch a 4 and not 5 for minor reasons. I won't say why because technically she wasn't supposed to start renting the place to anyone until next weekend. She did us a favor by letting us use it sooner. It wouldn't be fair of me to say why! It truly does sadden me to hear what other writers have to say about Valerie. She is such a sweet, wonderful lady! She was so accommodating and was always around when we needed something. She maintains the property very well. Our 9 year old son wants to go back and celebrate his 10th birthday here. LOL All in all we had a great time and would definitely go back! Thanks Valerie for everything! read more

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Listen to the reviews! The setting is nice but there are some quirks. First of all, if you want unsolicited opinions on how to do YOUR special day then this is the place for you. The owner feels that because your are paying for her place that she is entitled to give unsolicited opinions. People are paying for the venue...not you. Then after many attempts of trying to nicely tell her to butt out she gets offended and brags about how she's done HUNDREDS of weddings at her venue so she knows what she talking about. I'm pretty sure most brides want THEIR OWN special day not the same day of hundreds of other brides. She takes everything personally. Then The housing situation is weird because basically the main house is shared with her and her living space. So when you're trying to do your thing she is always just there. Then during the wedding and reception she is hanging out on her back patio area which is right by the walkway to the pool area. So again she's always just hanging around. Which would be no issue if she didn't insert herself into your business. The house and apartment are both very dated and need some updating. The area where the wedding is held is very uneven and some of the chairs end up very wobbly. Definitely would not recommended if you have infirm or elderly family attending. She got really offended when there were decorations used on the deck where the bride and groom stand and took it personally that we didn't want to just see the view...the view of the dry summer weeds and oaks. She also will promise the world to you then go back on it at the flip of a switch and go back on her contract. it was just a very strange experience dealing with her. If it wasn't for her it would be an ok place especially with a few updates. But in the end she sours the experience so much that I would recommend spending your hard earned money elsewhere. read more

We initially decided to have our wedding at SRR because the owner, Valerie, claimed she was flexible ("that day is yours, honey, you do as you want!"), promised many connections to local vendors, and promised we could have people camping and staying onsite for the whole weekend, which was the most important part of the weekend for us. These things could not be farther from the truth. She was not at all flexible when we wanted to deviate from any of HER plans. When we asked if we could have the ceremony in the back, "Absolutely not". When we told her we envisioned a more casual Friday dinner with ~100 people vs. a more traditional rehearsal dinner for ~20, she grudgingly obliged, not without first opining in a demeaning and disrespectful manner. She stated that we were over the allotted "person-hours" on the property, though there is no mention of that in the contract (and we were under the 150 person limit). She is full of empty promises; she made no introductions to local vendors; in fact, vendors often warned us against Valerie. Once, I asked for details about the "complementary" brunch that was in the contract we signed, and she asked me if I knew what complementary meant and then proceeded to tell me it meant she was giving something to me for free, and could therefore also take it away, which she was doing. Though the contract states there is "plenty of 5th wheel parking" and we discussed tent camping ad nauseum with her (and have proof of discussing it with her 6 months prior to the wedding...though she will claim otherwise), she eventually restricted all camping, breaching the contract. In one of our conversations, she mentioned SRR was no place for "dirty Santa Cruz hippies, though you know how I love them", which left me in tears. She has refused to return our deposit, so we are in the process of taking our time-stamped notes from calls with her, voice recordings (that we ensured she was aware of), and our signed contract to sue her for breach of contract. read more

This is such an ideal spot for a family get away during COVID. With a full kitchen, two bedroom and two bathroom guest house it's perfect for a family trip. There is a pool and hot tub on site. Lots of space so you feel like you are out in the country. Yet close enough to town with grocery stores etc to be convenient. Valerie was a great host, very friendly and attentive yet gave us our space and privacy. we mentioned we forgot vegetable oil and she gave us a brand new bottle without being asked! So thoughtful. She had a golden retriever that welcomes you when you arrive. It feels like going to visit a family member and have a cozy retreat. read more

Sparks Ranch Resort - Pool with shallow wading pools - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Sonora, California

STAY AWAY FROM THIS VENUE!!! I would give negative stars if I could. I could write a book about my poor experience here for the weekend, but I'll hit the important topics. My wife and I got married here in August and we had a TERRIBLE experience. Thankfully every other vendor was fantastic, but the owner of this venue, Valerie, is the WORST. She'll promise you the world building up to the day of, but come the big day you'll learn every one of her promises are empty. She will also linger throughout the entire weekend, chipping in her two cents when it's not needed or wanted. Seriously, you're going to spend a ton of money here and Val will act like she could wipe her ass with it. You do not deserve to put up with this type of behavior on your wedding day. Her dog will also wander, do it's "business" in the middle of the lawn on your wedding day, and is aggressive and territorial. She didn't return my deposit due to us "not being grateful for the day she created for us", in her eyes she deserved the money more. We have photos of every inch of her property showing we left it in arguably better shape than when we arrived - myself and my groomsmen had to clean up the front yard the morning of my wedding as she clearly does not have a landscaper. Valerie is in no way fit to be running a business, go literally anywhere else for whatever event you're planning. read more

Sparks Ranch Resort is not your typical wedding venue ~ it is a magical experience! Valerie, the proprietor, is just incredible! She is welcoming, kind, and willing to go above and beyond to help you make the most out of your wedding. She and her team are professional and accommodating to whatever your needs may be. Unlike many wedding venues where you're pretty much on your own once you've signed the contract, Valerie is always within reach and ready to do whatever it takes to bring you peace of mind and make sure everything is running smoothly. Sparks Ranch Resort is a sprawling, several acre oasis where you can have the wedding of your dreams! With beautifully manicured lawns, lush foliage, trees surrounding the property, and wide open spaces for your party, this is the perfect place to get away from it all and focus on your love with your family and friends. While within reach of grocery stores, gas stations and recreation, it is secluded enough where you will feel as though you are in a far away land; majestic and enchanting! I am a wedding photographer that recently shot a wedding at Sparks Ranch Resort and I have never felt more welcome or been treated with such kindness. And I have shot at several venues throughout California!! Valerie welcomed me in with open arms as if I were family and made sure I knew that she would be there to help me with anything I might need. She gave me a tour of the property and introduced me to other members of her team. When you hear the phrase, my house is your house, this is exactly how Valerie makes you feel! If you are looking for an extraordinary wedding venue, look no further than Sparks Ranch Resort! With Valerie's hospitality, helpful and knowledgeable team, all-inclusive packages that beat out and are far superior to others, you will have all of your needs met and then some! read more

Lets see, about ten reviews that apparently violated the Terms of Service. Too bad because mine and I'm sure all the others were spot on in their probably negative reviews of this place. As for the recent reviews, this is Covid season with no events being played out! In short and IMO, they are bogus reviews by the friends of the owner. I pass this place every day on my way to work between 11AM and 8PM and have not seen any events in months! Covid is probably the best thing to happen to this place. read more

The perspective of a wedding photographer & guest: the place is beautifully kept and the landscape was well-taken care of. The bride and the bridal party got ready in the guest house while the guys got ready in the side area of the main house. There was a pool in the backyard that the groom and groomsmen were using before getting ready that de-stressed them before the ceremony. The reception area was near the side of the hut/bar area where the appetizers and the buffet line were being assembled. There was plenty of room for the dancing which was the perfect size. The ceremony was held at the front end of the house kind of on a downward slope that was perfect for the guests so that everyone could see them. The location had a parking area that was perfect for the amount of guests that were there. I didn't directly communicate with Valerie as I was only a second shooter for the wedding, but I felt very comfortable and please with the venue. I used to work at a wedding venue in downtown Modesto called The Century- so I know what it's like. I must say, "Well done! Will keep this place in mind for my own wedding someday." read more

Very sad bride and really mad groom!!! because of privacy acts... we can only say how we feel. *read all reviews by other reviewers.. There is also hidden reviews here on yelp... hit the button that shows hidden reviews.... so sad wish we saw them...They are (bad) reviews! They are also in so many other places around the internet and say about the same thing.... I wish we saw them...but thank God we found a new venue just in time to finish out our planning. UPDATE... YAY WE WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE... OUR WEDDING WAS FLAWLESS AND BETTER THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER DREAMED OF We did lose our deposit of $2000 because it was nonrefundable. So be VERY CAREFUL but it was worth the loss Sparks Ranch is pretty but ran very poorly. We signed a contract with Valerie back in Nov 2013 in March on a site visit she ripped up the contract and said we owe her more money and said she never signed the contract but CASHED OUR CHECK ALONG WITH OUR SIGNED CONTRACT BACK IN NOV 2013. We were shocked but at the time felt we would not be able to find another venue. So we signed the new one. ONLY.... Because it was non refundable, we lost our money. No money in the world could have made us get married at Sparks Ranch. She was VERY VERY rude to a bride and groom. As you can see in ALL of her responses to bad reviews.... She is very defensive. As a past bride... Brides want so badly to get married in a pretty place...but at the end of the day.... You want it to be FUN AND HAPPY! We had the most amazingly beautiful wedding somewhere else. Something we and our friends and family will remember for a lifetime :-) read more

One star because the venue truly is beautiful. Would be perfect if you're planning a party that you're ok paying an undetermined amount for and are willing to hand over all control to the crazy homeowner. Not recommended for weddings. At all. Many local caterers, wedding planners and other vendors refuse to work the venue because of it. Go visit, check it out and trust your gut. I learned the hard way. read more

This is the second review I am writing about my experience with Sparks Ranch Resort. The previous review was some how deleted. It is a culmination of a long, frustrating experience with Valerie, the owner of the resort. We held our wedding there in August. Since the time we booked it, our experience when dealing with Valerie was to put it nicely frustrating. With constant back and forth on what was agreed upon and what wasn't. With that being said, the main reason for this review is to discuss our $500 cleaning deposit for the rooms and living areas. It has been 2 months and we have yet to receive our deposit. We have emailed here several times and have received no response. My wife finally called Valerie this week to ask about our deposit. She told my wife that she had mailed the deposit but it had been returned to her. The letter, with the check in it, was sitting our her desk and she was looking at it while talking to my wife. Upon receiving the mail back, she thought it over and decided that we did not deserve our deposit back after all. Because we were negative/mean on our first review we put on yelp and that she had done extra things for us that weekend. When my wife asked why our deposit was being withheld from us for those reasons, because it is a cleaning deposit that covers damages and/or missing property from the rooms, for which there was none. She stated it's not really a cleaning deposit (as stated in the contract) it is basically for covering anything extra that Valerie had to do. My wife ended the conversation by asking Valerie if she was resending the deposit and Valerie said, 'No!' My wife and I spent several hours the morning after the wedding cleaning the living areas. Picking up all trash and placing it outside the doors. Even after doing this, Valerie told us over the phone soon after we left, what a great job we did and really didn't have to do that because it is part of package we purchased. The deposit is really for any damaged or missing items. There were none and we should be receiving the full amount back. We just want our deposit back, so we can both move on. Thank you, Jacob H. read more

This place was too lovely for words! The ranch gives a wonderful country experience in the heart of California, not far from the shops and restaurants of Sonora. Waterfall, swimming pool, beautiful woodsy scenery...and the bedrooms each had their own romantic charm with views of the countryside. My husband and I spent two nights for our 34th wedding anniversary and it exceeded our expectations in every way. Valerie was a fabulous host, dinner at The Peppery ten minutes away was amazing, and mornings looking out to the falling autumn leaves made it all such a special experience. Can't wait 'till our next trip to Sparks Ranch... read more

This venue is awesome! Grounds are beautiful with lots of mature plans and trees. The owner is so helpful and kind. There are lots of special touches that make this place so sweet! Go grateful for the blessing of this place and it's owner! read more

The ranch is beautiful. the pool, hot tub, friday parties are all wonderful. being in sonora and away from the bright lights of the city, star gazing is as good as it gets... a great place to get away and unwind... read more

I love Sparks Ranch. I really had a great experience. When I got there Valerie and I sat and had lunch in the back area which is surrounded by a pond and beautiful trees. The ranch itself is so very pretty. The grounds in the front are beautiful and it is a steal and a deal. I am reading the other reviews and I had an INCREDIBLE experience. Valerie the owner is thorough, very kind and works hard for each of us coming to stay. So I felt well taken care of at Sparks Ranch. My other review of Sparks did not get included in the rating. So I am writing another one. read more

This B&B is well situated. My husband and I stayed here for 3 nights recently, and we had a very pleasant experience. Valerie welcomed us with a glass of wine and gave us a tour of the place the first day. The house is nicely decorated and has a nice ambience. Our room was clean with plenty of towels. We had privacy. Her husband, Ron also was very gracious and made us a hearty biscuit and gravy breakfast on our last day. The dogs, Big Boy and Sophie were friendly too. read more

I love The Sparks Resort. The estate grounds are beautiful and the house is lovely. The lawn in the front is spectacular and it feels like you are at home. i fell in love with Valerie, who oversees everything and just really felt like I had known her forever. I had the best experience there and loved the food!!! read more