Airport Commuter Black SUV chauffeur for The Estate by the Elderberries — a Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, Relais & Chateaux castle estate on nine acres in the Sierra Nevada foothills at Oakhurst, 16 miles from Yosemite, with 10 herb-named chateau rooms, the two-bedroom Villa du Sureau, Erna's Elderberry House, and Spa du Sureau — a fourth anchor in AC's Yosemite gateway cluster.
Chateau du Sureau — The Estate by the Elderberries — at 48688 Victoria Lane is a Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, Relais & Chateaux castle estate set on nine acres in the Sierra Nevada foothills at Oakhurst, 16 miles from Yosemite National Park's southern gateway in Madera County. The chateau has 10 individually designed guest rooms, each named after an herb — Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme, Chamomile, Elderberry, Mint, Saffron, Rosehip, Sweet Geranium, and Ciboulette — with fireplaces, soaking tubs, and balconies or patios, plus the private two-bedroom Villa du Sureau with a grand salon, a baby grand Steinway piano, and a private spa. On the estate are Erna's Elderberry House, a Five-Diamond restaurant, and Spa du Sureau. Chateau du Sureau deepens AC's Yosemite gateway cluster to a fourth anchor — the most intimate and formal of the four, a European-style chateau rather than a lodge.
Relais & Chateaux castle. Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond, on nine acres in the Sierra foothills — one of California's most celebrated luxury estates.
10 herb-named rooms + the Villa. Each chateau room individually designed with a fireplace and soaking tub; the two-bedroom Villa du Sureau adds a grand salon, a Steinway, and a private spa.
Erna's Elderberry House. A Five-Diamond restaurant on the estate, long among the finest dining in the Sierra.
Spa du Sureau. The estate spa, with retreats and treatments for two.
South entrance + Mariposa Grove. The park's south gate and the giant sequoias of the Mariposa Grove, a short drive north up Highway 41.
Wawona. The historic Wawona Hotel and meadow, on the way to the valley.
Yosemite Valley. Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, and El Capitan, roughly an hour to ninety minutes farther in.
Bass Lake. The Sierra reservoir with boating and lakeside dining, minutes from the estate.
Tenaya Lodge (Fish Camp). AC's sibling anchor, the next town up Highway 41 toward the gate.
FAT Fresno Yosemite International (closest). About 50 minutes south, the smoothest approach up Highway 41 — the best flying option for the estate.
SJC San Jose / SFO San Francisco / OAK Oakland. About 3:00 / 3:30 / 3:30 for SF Bay clients — AC chauffeurs the full drive so guests skip the mountain-road rental car.
Mariposa-Yosemite + Fresno-Chandler. General aviation and private jets near the south gate.
Chateau du Sureau - The Estate by the Elderberries - is a Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, Relais & Chateaux castle estate on nine acres in the Sierra Nevada foothills at Oakhurst, 16 miles from Yosemite National Park's southern gateway in Madera County. It deepens AC's Yosemite gateway cluster to a fourth luxury anchor alongside The Ahwahnee in Yosemite Valley, Tenaya Lodge at Fish Camp, and Rush Creek Lodge at Groveland - and it is the most intimate and formal of the four, a European-style chateau rather than a lodge. AC chauffeurs guests from the airport to the estate and on into the park, with a Black SUV waiting through the day.
The chateau has 10 individually designed guest rooms, each named after an herb - Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme, Chamomile, Elderberry, Mint, Saffron, Rosehip, Sweet Geranium, and Ciboulette - with fireplaces, plush linens, soaking tubs, and balconies or patios. The private two-bedroom Villa du Sureau adds a grand salon with a baby grand Steinway piano, a wet bar, a dining terrace, and a private spa. On the estate are Erna's Elderberry House, a Five-Diamond restaurant long regarded as one of the finest in the Sierra, and Spa du Sureau, which offers retreats with spa experiences for two. It is a small, romantic, European-style estate - candlelit and formal - and AC provides discreet arrivals and on-call chauffeur service for the property and the park beyond.
Chateau du Sureau sits in Oakhurst on Highway 41, the southern approach to Yosemite National Park. The park's south entrance, the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, and Wawona are a short drive north; Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Tunnel View, and Bridalveil Fall are roughly an hour to ninety minutes farther in. Bass Lake, a Sierra reservoir with boating and dining, is minutes from the estate, and the Sierra National Forest surrounds the area. AC's Tenaya Lodge sibling anchor at Fish Camp is the next town up Highway 41 toward the gate. AC builds a Yosemite chauffeur tour from the estate, with the giant sequoias and the valley as the centerpiece and the chauffeur handling the mountain roads and park traffic.
FAT Fresno Yosemite International Airport is about 50 minutes south and is the closest major airport, with the smoothest approach up Highway 41. For SF Bay clients, SJC San Jose is about 3 hours, SFO San Francisco about 3 hours 30 minutes, and OAK Oakland about 3 hours 30 minutes - AC chauffeurs the full drive so guests arrive rested rather than renting a car for the mountain roads. Mariposa-Yosemite and Fresno-Chandler airports serve general aviation and private jets. Chateau du Sureau pairs with AC's Tenaya Lodge, Rush Creek Lodge, and The Ahwahnee for a Yosemite gateway tour, and AC positions vehicles at FAT, SJC, SFO, and OAK for the southern approach to the park.