2014 Summer of Tiki Madness!

It was a great summer on the Ranch! lots of fun things and projects...1st time to Tiki Oasis out in San Diego - Wow can't wait until next year, amazing time even got to meet and talk to Sven Kirsten while waiting to get our wrist bands. Great people, music and Rum! 

Summer of Tiki 2014 was a Hoot! Mr Gregg and the Rancher in San Diego Tiki Oasis

Yes we have no bananas but plenty of rum

the pond was blooming all summer

new vintage fish float from the Antique Factory

Giant Tiki poolside at the Oasis

New mugs from Tiki Oasis - Don and the Goof

Gregg and his 51 Fuzebox

the Rancher and the King at Tiki Oasis 2014

suffering bastard I started carving

Tiki Oasis 2014 - Follow TIKIRANCHER on Instagram for many more pictures and the craziness of the Ranch

Cool vintage trailer Deadhead Rum - Yum!

My life sized 3 ft tall midget alien tiki I carved, then burned with a torch to carbonize

Great fun at Tiki Oasis - couple of Aussies I met - Mahalo John and Ellie

Landscape Updates

Woo Hoo! The Ranch has new SOD and Shrubs...I've planted a fresh plot of Sod and several new plants and shrubs.  Gearing up for the 3rd Annual Polynesian BBQ.  I also built a living wall for my wife on Mother's Day. Came out great - check it out.

                          

New Koi Pond and Waterfall

Since last post it rained for days and finally cleared up on Easter Sunday.  I had 2 tons of rocks and two pallets of retaining wall blocks dropped off on Saturday...I was itching to get it started on Saturday but it was too wet.  I had to wheel barrow the rocks and blocks down a hill in my backyard so it had to dry up. Bright and early Sunday the sun was shining and the tiki gods were smiling.  I started moving things around 9 in the morning and ended up with a finished 400 gallon koi pond and waterfall at 11pm. I was finishing up with tiki torch lights and my wife watching me as I almost killed myself arranging 100 lb boulders solo in the dark. Enjoy the progress...next week new sod and plants, trees ect...Mahalo Y'all.

Spring on the Ranch!

Yes, it was a shitty winter everywhere and now that it has thawed out the work will begin! The cold messed up my grass everywhere, front yard and completed ruined my turf in front of the hut.  New things are planned this year and for the first time in 3 years since building the hut I have to perform some maintenance. Ropes tightened and a good spring cleaning...I've moved the big 6 ft Tiki God of Money to the other side of the yard..much better! I'm adding a fish pond and waterfall in the place the tiki once stood.  New sod, rocks and trees are coming soon. I have already put down 85 bags of mulch and 40 bales of pine straw! Reworked the stone stairs and filled some areas with top soil. Next post will show the pond completed and other stuff! So stay tuned for more progress at the ranch. 3rd Annual Memorial Day Luau is coming up!    Mahalo Y'all

Winter has hit the Tiki Ranch!

Today Atlanta got hit with the first snow in a long time and it caused major waves outside the ranch, but here it is calm, warm and cozy...the south closes down with a chance of snow...well, we got a couple inches between noon and 6pm.  I got home just in time after picking up the grommet at school early.  Mahalo

Rockabilly Luau, Flame eating mermaids and Playboy Model Photo Shoots plus much more Tiki Madness

Aloha! It has been way too long since last time I posted and I'm truly sorry for new visitors to the blog.  I started a new job 6 months ago and its been kicking my ass...no time for hanging out in the Blogisphere. But I'm back to catch y'all up on some crazy tiki madness happening at the hut.  Let's start where I left off last...August..what a loser... Happy New Year! 

Rockabilly Luau in lovely Tucker Georgia
Chris Maddox the man who help start the fundraising event spawned the idea of the best party you've never been to...Rockabilly music with Tiki carving, bikini pin up girl contest, classic cars and bikes and plenty o rum drinking atmosphere.  The vendors were cool with tons of cool stuff to buy. Hot Rod Walt and the Psycho Devilles played a great set right after the Pin Up contest - hot chicks with a 50s flair.  Chris contacted me about renting one of my portable bars for the event, they used it to sell cocktails. Worked great, my buddy Greg helped me deliver it and set it up. Got to watch some pinups and flame dancers along with some PBRs and tasty food.  The second day of the event I went with my love Jen and my son Austin.  Hot Rod Walt played and the Flame eating Mermaid made an appearance in the Holiday Inn Express pool.  Darlene the Baking Queen, Dr Mike Katz and Anya Martin all hung with the Tiki Rancher tribe.  

Rockabilly Luau girls

while setting up the bar I had a birds eye view!

My son and favorite beer

Rental bar worked out great! they sold all tropical drinks here

Darlene the Baking Queen and friend

Atlanta Magazine featured Tiki Rancher in a full page article in the September issue! "Welcome to the Jungle" was a great piece done by acclaimed writer Lisa Mowry.  

A famous Playboy photographer saw the article while getting her car repaired and contacted me to rent the Hut for a swimsuit fashion shoot! Super fun and cool...she even brought a camera drone to shoot some overheads shots. 

Drone attack!

they actually paid me to be here! Nice

The Ranch got a new vehicle in the coral - a sweet one owner 1959 Coupe deville! I've been slowly restoring this baby after it was spotted by friend Chad Hess hidden behind an old body shop.  The color was black and gray from sitting outside for 4 years under a tree...after meeting the original owner's son (78yr old son) I struck a deal but the car needed a complete interior, many missing parts I've been successfully acquiring from ebay and other cadillac guys around the country. Special shout out to Brian in Pittsburgh for supplying most of the hard to find parts and advice. 

The paint cleaned up nice and the chrome is perfect...no rust and runs like a dream

Loving it! almost done

Winter has hit Tiki Mountain and it is freezing like everywhere, but the hut is in good shape, roof is still holding up after 2.5 years without repairs or replacement.  A new awning was added to provide more shade and privacy. The temperatures are below freezing and enabled the Rancher to make snow on the front slope.  

New Awning this Fall

inside looking out

a view through the new awning - come on in!

Tiki Sled Resort snow report showing all trails open with 2-3" of fresh packed powder. Only at the ranch can you get a Mai Tai in the backyard and sled ride in the front!

Before

After 4 hours of blowing

all trails open!

Austin and Kaleb hitting the hill