Willow Springs Retreat Center is the ideal location for Lodging Near Bullard’s Bar Reservoir.
Located on Highway 49 just 15 miles outside Nevada City, California, we are in the foothills of the Tahoe National Forest. We have excellent cell service, high speed internet, an EV Blink charging station and ample parking for boat trailers with easy on-off access to Highway 49. We are 15 minutes to the Dark Day Boat Launch and the full-service Emerald Cove Marina is just another 4 minutes down the road. To our knowledge, we are the only lodging near Bullard’s Bar that can accommodate adequate parking for boating enthusiasts and house up to sixty overnight guests.
MORE than just Lodging Near Bullard’s Bar Reservoir
Willow Springs offers multiple options for overnight accommodations. We offer a refurbished 13-bed lodge with a chef’s kitchen that can feed large groups. Within a short walk of the lodge, we offer fully furnished 1 bedroom and 1 bath cabins that sleep four each. Throughout the property we have several RV sites to choose from. We have four full hookup sites, two with water and electricity and up to six sites with water only. A dump station is onsite. Each of these sites can accommodate up to 42’ RVs. Our new group campground serves up to thirty campers in an enclosed one acre fenced area where your dogs are not only welcome but can be off-leash. In addition, we offer a furnished yurt and bell tents should you have individuals in your group that are not equipped with their own camping gear. Our camping guests have been spoiled by our community bathhouse and the kitchen that has two full-sized refrigerators, 4-burner stovetop/oven and a BBQ grill, a stainless steel triple sink and unbreakable, microwave safe, dishware for up to 50 campers. If you are looking for lodging near Bullard’s Bar, we got you covered.
Bring your water toys
Don’t feel like you have to show up like some of our previous guests that brought two ski boats, a pontoon boat and a trailer with four jet skis. Parking is made to be super easy here at Willow Springs but all these toys are not necessary to have a blast on Bullard’s Bar Reservoir. The water hasn’t been this high in years and yet the water is still warm and refreshing for those that just want to swim and float on inflatable devises. Kayaking, paddle boarding, and simple donut inner-tubes are favorites among those that want a relaxing day on the water. For the simple at heart, we recommend you go to the Dark Day “overflow” lot to the far end and proceed to the lower parking lot. There you can unload and have an easy walk down to the many beaches available for day use. For those that want to splurge, make rental reservations at Emerald Cove Marina for pontoon boats, ski boats, jet skis and even house boats. Their website is www.BullardsBar.com. We suggest for large groups to rent the pontoon boats that can pull inner-tubes or even wake-boards. Explore the nooks and crannies of the reservoir and discover the water falls. Such a blast! You will love it.
Catch your own dinner at Bullard’s Bar!
Bullard’s Bar also is a favorite for fishing enthusiasts with some of the area’s best bass and Kokanee Salmon fishing in northern California. A variety of cold and warm water species are abundant in the reservoir. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass can be caught early in the season near the mouths of creeks and rocky points, while salmon are caught near the damn.
Convenient and affordable lodging near Bullard’s Bar Reservoir
We have made it our goal to provide a resting place for water enthusiasts to relax at the end of a day on the lake. We host family reunions, friends and family holiday vacations, and a fun place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Our guests love just hanging out on our back patio with the water feature running past their feet, or relaxing in the 6-person hot tub. You’ll also find an outdoor kitchen area for BBQing your dinner. As an operating farm, enjoy the pathways through the herb garden or the permaculture garden. Find a bench and relax and watch the hummingbirds or butterflies. Feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs is a popular pastime for our younger guests where our older guests enjoy the historic bar in the lodge or the rustic outside wet bar adjacent to the fire pit. For an additional fee, we can set up a yoga instructor in our yoga studio, a massage, stoke up the wood-burning sauna, take a glass blowing class or juggling class, or we can set up tables and chairs in our pavilion for a group meal. Our mission is to help you create lasting memories. Gives us a try and tell us how we did.