Exterior of The Hungry Hut by Azael Gomez via Google Maps

A long-time China Peak Mountain Resort employee now owns Shaver Lake’s oldest burger stand, which has been serving locals and tourists alike for more than 60 years.

Tristan Cohee recently purchased The Hungry Hut, a 2,000-square-foot destination known for its burgers and shakes on Highway 168. The restaurant was originally named Cuckoo Hut by retired California Highway Patrol officer Otto Vetter, who founded the business in 1965 and operated it on his own for as long as he could, according to the Sierra Nevada Geotourism website.

The business would briefly close a couple of years later, but would reopen after being sold to Angelo Vlahavas, who changed its name to The Hungry Hut.

In addition to the made-to-order hamburgers, they also feature Hut dogs — hot dogs that have been sliced, grilled open-face and served sandwich style. Specialty milkshakes are available year-around made with seasonal fruit.

“The shakes are world famous up there,” he said. “Boysenberries are now in season, and that is a very, very popular shake.”

Cohee is the director of lodging, food and beverage at China Peak, where he has worked for about 16 years in various positions. He was first hired as a teen, spending summer breaks building mountain bike trails.

“I would come for the holidays as well. I worked in the rental repair shop in 2000,” he said. “I helped with the water and air hydrants at China Peak when we were building a new snowmaking system.”

He and wife Daniela permanently moved to the area in their 20s, allowing him to work for the resort full-time for the last nine years.

His father Tim Cohee was the owner of China Peak from 2010 to 2022, selling it to The California Mountain Resort Co. (CMRC), a resort group that is backed by a Chicago-based investing firm called Invision Capital.

CMRC’s three resorts include Mountain High in Southern California and Dodge Ridge northwest of Yosemite National Park, as well as China Peak.

Tristan said Invision is “run by a cool group of guys,” which includes CEO Karl Kapuscinski; John McColly, the vice president of sales and marketing; as well as Tristan’s father, Tim Cohee, who is president of CMRC.

Tristan said there’s no plans of changing the legacy business, aside from adding additional ice cream and shake toppings as well as 10% off of food and non-alcoholic beverages for China Peak season pass holders.

The Cohees said they are invested in the community where they are raising their own family.

“We want to create this scene that is appealing to all ages, all families, whether you’re visiting or whether you’re a local,” Cohee said. “Our goal is to create something that is where everybody wants to be at every point of the year.”