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Harris Ranch Pilot Discount is Gone!

Toobuilder

Toobuilder

Well Known Member
For as long as I can remember, Harris Ranch supported the GA by offering a 10% discount to pilots at the restaurant. We stayed last night and were informed that the policy has been discontinued. I have an email to management expressing my disappointment, but have yet to hear a response. When it comes in, I’ll post it here. Until then, this serves as a heads up to those flying in and expecting the discount.
 
In the grand scheme of things, the 10% discount is not a make or break financial situation for either side, but for me it represented a overt sign of support for GA, and that goodwill was worth more to me than the paltry dollar value. Looks like there are a few reactions to this thread. I’d encourage the community to write an email to the resort to let them know that pilots notice things like this.
 
Discounted food for pilots is a nice gesture but I wouldn’t be that quick to categorize that as a lack of support of GA. I have always found their food and service to be excellent and priced fairly. I never knew about the discount and thus never asked for it.
Perhaps those “writing the management” could suggest they offer a discount on food with a minimum fuel purchase. Their fuel prices appear to be fair also, considering current events.
Sadly, folks seem to feel entitled when something given is then taken away. See this a lot here…..
 
The discount was posted clearly on a sign attached to the gate leading off the ramp - “pilots, ask about our 10% discount at the restaurant”. Hardly an entitlement, that’s a targeted advertising campaign to a certain class of people. Removal of that targeted marketing means you are either hoping the class does not notice, or you no longer care to attract that class.

Look, the money isn’t the issue (I’d again argue that goes for their side too), but the goodwill goes a long way with me. I go out of my way to support vendors who actively court my business, and if they become indifferent, then I notice. Hell, I’m still angry about the loss of Meigs Field, and I never flew near there.

So yes, an overt attempt to attract pilots is “support for GA” and the removal of that attraction is …

The Harris Ranch management has every right to make decisions on how their business is run. They made a deliberate decision to incentivize pilots to visit the resort. Recently, they made a deliberate decision to remove that incentive. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s not the end of the world, but it is noticeable for those who are immersed in GA. Take this information and do what you want with it.
 
Harris Ranch was a popular destination when I was based out of KSJC -- I can attribute at least 2" of my waistline and 30pts of my LDL to their Ribeye + Baked potato :)

However, I do not recall an aviators discount. Just a really narrow runway that I had trouble keeping the -231 on the centerline...
 
Restaurants all over the central valley are shutting down, it's become nearly impossible to make any money. This doesn't apply well to Harris because it's a corporate monster with plenty of business, but I would expect that all the different functions are accounted for separately. I would not be surprised if that sit-down restaurant is performing poorly compared to everything else there like the bar, gas sales and the BBQ shack.

I get the reaction to them killing the discount and perception that it's a lack of support for GA. I also see the other side of the coin. I want fly-in options like Harris to survive, getting a few more around here would be even better. Pilots are notoriously cheap. There's a case to be made that we should be happy to pay a premium for a place like Harris instead of demanding a discount.

Do we know anything about operational costs for the runway? Maintenance, insurance, etc.
 
Hasn’t it become a popular tourist destination for peeps traveling along I-5? Pretty busy the couple of times I have been there. Maybe that’s why they removed the discount / incentive for pilots. I wouldn’t view it as hoping we wouldn’t notice or they no longer care. Now if they start opening the runway/ramp area for vehicle parking…😡. And yes, I’m still pissed about Meigs as well and I never flew in there.
 
Harris has a captive audience due to being in the middle of nowhere on the major N/S highway corridor of the state. Pilots are enticed by the runway right on the property, but there is zero, I repeat ZERO reason for a pilot to go to Coalinga Ca, other than what Harris offers on the property. It’s a beautiful resort and a beautiful pool and great food…. But that exists for pilots in many other places. Sedona, Az comes immediately to mind as comparable in amenities and price, but with a far superior location.

I have no idea what Harris’ finances look like, but I can tell you that our one night stay contributed more than 750 bucks to their till, and that was not including any fuel. 3 meals, drinks, and a room. I doubt truckers and transient Tesla drivers are dropping that kind of coin for their stops.
 
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Toobuilder said:
Harris has a captive audience due to being in the middle of nowhere on the major N/S highway corridor of the state. Pilots are enticed by the runway right on the property, but there is zero, I repeat ZERO reason for a pilot to go to Coalinga Ca, other than what Harris offers on the property. It’s a beautiful resort and a beautiful pool and great food…. But that exists for pilots in many other places. Sedona, Az comes immediately to mind as comparable in amenities and price, but with a far superior location.

I have no idea what Harris’ finances look like, but I can tell you that our one night stay contributed more than 750 bucks to their till, and that was not including any fuel. 3 meals, drinks, and a room. I doubt truckers and transient Tesla drivers are dropping that kind of coin for their stops.
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...Let's not forget the malodorous emanations from the feed-lot 5 miles to the north...
 
bjdecker said:
...Let's not forget the malodorous emanations from the feed-lot 5 miles to the north...
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Which, surprisingly is not an issue for some reason. One would expect you to be overcome by the smell, but in the 25 years I’ve been staying there, it’s never been “objectionable”. Most times you don’t even notice.
 
Toobuilder said:
For as long as I can remember, Harris Ranch supported the GA by offering a 10% discount to pilots at the restaurant. We stayed last night and were informed that the policy has been discontinued. I have an email to management expressing my disappointment, but have yet to hear a response. When it comes in, I’ll post it here. Until then, this serves as a heads up to those flying in and expecting the discount.
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Yeah Michael - that "perk" went the way of the Buffalo a while back ... Ask me how I know.

HHS
 
I've flown into Harris Ranch many times. In truth, the majority of the times I simply forgot to ask about any pilot discount. I'm simply grateful for a fly-in restaurant. Here in CA I shudder to think what they pay for my privilege: property taxes on the runway (1% here inCA), maintenance (my last visit the runway was in good condition), insurance(?). I suspect that even without the 10% discount our flying there costs the owner more than the net money we bring in. (Unless you buy a lot of alcohol!)
 
Four of us flew into Harris Ranch today and had lunch for a grand total of $240. A couple of steaks, a burger and a salad.
Cost of gas for the round trip from Concord roughly 26 gallons or just a bit less than lunch.
Frankly, I am surprised they don't charge us a landing fee. I can only imagine how the cost of maintaining a runway, insurance etc adds to their expenses.
I remember the discount and like others, I forgot to tell them most of the time and now that it is gone, I understand. It is a privately owned airport and if they decide to
close it to the general public , I fully understand.
I saw 2 airplanes on the ramp around 12:30 on a Sunday and about 100 Teslas "gasing up". You do the math.
There are literally thousands of cars stopping for gas, lunch, dinner and some for an overnight but only a handful of pilots who will sniffle about the cost of everything.
As a business owner, I appreciate all customers but if the finances don't make sense, call it quits and stop the bleeding.
So, enjoy it while it lasts, it won't be forever.
 
For what it’s worth, they allowed free parking for RV’s and overnight stays. Pick a space in the lot and don’t block anybody in, stay the night. They now have an RV Park. Don’t know if they allow RV overnight parking anymore but I doubt it.
 
We have one of relatively few small airports in this state with an on-airport restaurant of any quality, and I'm grateful it's there. It's a pretty good restaurant and popular with the non-flying locals too. In fact...at any given time, I think the majority of patrons have nothing to do with flying. I was contemplating this last week when I first saw this thread as I was eating at the Mesa Grill at the Sedona airport, although that airport restaurant is admittedly on a different level than ours. Personally, I view a discount for pilots at such restaurants as a curious and unnecessary perk, and support for GA as irrelevant. I'm just there for the food. Just my opinion.
 
Toobuilder said:
For as long as I can remember, Harris Ranch supported the GA by offering a 10% discount to pilots at the restaurant. We stayed last night and were informed that the policy has been discontinued. I have an email to management expressing my disappointment, but have yet to hear a response. When it comes in, I’ll post it here. Until then, this serves as a heads up to those flying in and expecting the discount.
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As of around several years ago, the Harris Ranch Inn and Restaurant became independent of the Harris Ranch Beef producer. The aviation discounts discontinued at some point thereafter, but at least a year ago.

Skylor
 
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