The Ahwahnee Hotel is located in Yosemite Valley and is known throughout the world as one of the most luxurious National Park Lodges.
This National Historic Landmark has seen numerous celebrities and presidents walk through its doors, been in movies like The Shining and is home to America's best known Christmas Dinner, the Bracebridge Dinner.
The Ahwahnee Hotel
The Ahwahnee Hotel History
The Ahwahnee Hotel was the vision of Stephen T. Mather the first director of the National Park Service. Following the creation of Yosemite National Park in 1916 Mather campaigned to increase support and funding for the National Parks.
He wanted to upgrade Yosemite's concessions and accommodations. He wanted a hotel built that would attract guests and be open year-round. Gilbert Stanly Underwood was chosen as the architect in July of 1925.
Gilbert Underwood also designed two other highly recognized National Park Lodges in Southern Utah, the Bryce Canyon Lodge, and the Zion Canyon Lodge. The initial plans for the hotel consisted of a central tower seven stories high with three wings extending from it.
The east wing would contain and entry lobby and two floors of private rooms. The south wing would contain lots of public spaces including the Grand Lounge and meeting rooms plus three floors of private rooms. The west wing would contain an enormous dining room that could seat 350 people.
To reduce the hotel's vulnerability to fires there was very little wood used in construction. The primary building materials consisted of steel, granite, and concrete. The exterior would be granite and concrete that was stained to look like Redwoods.
The project was approved in March 1926 by Stephen Mather. A contractor was hired who proposed building the hotel for a maximum cost of $525,000 including construction fees by December 15, 1926. The cornerstone was laid for the hotel on August 1, 1926.
All of the building materials had to be trucked into Yosemite National Park. None of the park's natural resources could be used to build the hotel.
As the building was being constructed it was not without issues. Additional square footage was added causing the price to climb to one million dollars and caused the project to be seven months behind schedule.
On October 12, 1926, The Ahwahnee was finally named. The name Ahwahnee was chosen by Yosemite Valley's first residents, the Ahwahneechee people, and translates to "place of large gaping mount".
The grand opening of The Ahwahnee was set for July 16, 1927, with a final price tag of 1.25 million to build the majestic hotel. Right before the hotel was due to open hotel employees realized they could smell the strong fumes coming off of trucks at the main entrance. They had to quickly construct a covered walkway and timber porte-cochere before the grand opening.
During World War II the Ahwahnee was used as a rest and relaxation hospital for naval personnel. The great lounge housed 350 men as a dormitory. Over a span of 2.5 years 90,000 servicemen and women relaxed at the hotel.
The hotel went through a $400,000 renovation in 1964 and reopened in time for Christmas.
The original large oak tables, secretaries, and wrought iron chandeliers in the Great Lounge can still be found today. You can see the original hotel rugs now hanging on the wall.
Yosemite National Park Entrance Fee
Remember that Yosemite National Park has an entrance fee separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass—$20.00. Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Yosemite Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle to Yosemite National Park only. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
America the Beautiful/National Park Pass - $80.00 (Also known as the Interagency Annual Pass or Interagency Pass) covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.
This is very worthwhile if you plan a National Park vacation, especially for visitors to Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks!
The park pass covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy on REI.com, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the annual five free entrance days the National Park Service offers.
The Ahwahnee Map
Did you know that The Ahwahnee was called The Majestic Yosemite Hotel?
On March 1, 2016, Aramark took over running the Ahwahnee hotel. The hotel's name was changed from The Ahwahnee to The Majestic Yosemite Hotel due to an ongoing trademark dispute with the previous concessionaire, Delaware North Inc., who lost the bid in 2014.
On July 15, 2019, the announcement was made that the ongoing trademark legal dispute was settled, and familiar names like Ahwahnee, Curry Village, and Wawona were restored back into Yosemite National Park.
The Ahwahnee Reservations
Click here to book your stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel.
The Ahwahnee Hotel is a stunning example of Parkitecture
You may be asking yourself, what is Parkitecture?
Parkitecture, also known as National Park Service Rustic Architecture, is a type of architecture designed by the National Park Service in an effort to create buildings that harmonized with its natural surroundings.
The Ahwahnee is one of four National Park Hotels to receive the Class 1 (Criterion) rating from the National Park Lodge Architecture Society including the El Tovar, Old Faithful Lodge, and Crater Lake Lodge. These magnificent structures should be on any park visitor's list of things to see and do in a National Park as they are breathtakingly beautiful and full of grandeur.
The Ahwahnee Hotel is a unique blend of Art Deco, Native American, Middle Eastern, and Arts & Crafts Movement.
Bracebridge Dinner
Every December since the hotel's opening in 1927, The Ahwahnee Dining Room takes on the air of eighteenth-century England. The tables are lit by candlelight as guests are treated to a spectacular seven-course meal and perhaps the most celebrated Christmas Pageant in the United States.
The first two seasons starred Ansel Adams as the Lord of Misrule (Jester) before rewriting the play and playing different roles within the play.
Room Types at The Ahwahnee
There are a few things to remember when staying in one of these historic hotels.
First off, these rooms were built in the 1920s and reflect what luxury was during that time, not 2020 luxury. 1920's luxury was seen more in the common areas where people socialized, had beautiful meals prepared for them, and enjoyed the lodge itself.
The room was merely a place to sleep and change clothes so don't be surprised to hear the plumbing rattle and beds and showers much smaller than today's standards. Technology is always a concern as we have become so accustomed to watching T.V. being on our phones and having the ability to search the internet for all of our questions and needs.
Don't expect wifi access, televisions with cable channels, etc., just take a look out your window, nature is providing one of the most picturesque places on earth just outside your room!
If you want something a little more modern but really want to be in the main part of the park, check out the hotel cottages. These rooms are thoroughly updated, roomy, and just all-around exquisite.
Room classifications in the Ahwahnee Hotel include:
Standard Hotel Rooms
Junior Suite
Hotel Parlors
Hotel Cottages
Room Amenities
- Hair Dryer
- Flat Screen TV
- Refrigerator
- Telephone
- WiFi Available
- Pillow-Top Mattress
- Iron and Ironing Board
- One King Bed or Two Double Beds
The outdoor pool is heated and can be enjoyed year-round. It is gorgeous during Yosemite winter months when the pool is surrounded by snow and you can see the steam coming off the pool.
Ahwahnee Restaurants
The Ahwahnee Dining Room
Fine Dining
Breakfast served 7:00 AM-10:00 AM. The dress code is casual
Lunch served 11:30 AM-2:00 PM. Dress Code is Casual
Dinner served 5:30 PM-8:30 PM. Men are required to wear long pants and a shirt with a collar and women wear a dress, skirt, or long pants with a blouse. Children over age 4 are also kindly asked to dress for the occasion as well.
Sundays brunch is served 7:00 AM-2:00 PM. The dress code is casual.
Reservations can be made online or by calling (209)372-1489 between the hours of 9:00 AM- 8:00 PM
The dining room is a place that needs to be seen to fully appreciate its grandeur. The ceiling is a staggering 34 feet above the floor with massive trusses. There are wrought-iron craftsman style chandeliers and the stained glass is absolutely breathtaking!
The Ahwahnee Bar
Casual Dining
Coffee Bar open 6:00 AM-10:30 AM
Open Daily 11:30 AM-11:00 PM with a bar, wine, and cocktail menu.
Here is a look at the Ahwahnee Bar Gastro-Pub Flair menu.
Things to know when booking a visit to The Ahwahnee/The Majestic Yosemite Hotel
Reservations - 888-413-8869
Deposit - A deposit of 100% of the first night at the time of booking if paid by credit or debit card.
Cancellation Policy - Cancellations or changes in reservations must be received 7 days prior to reservation arrival date to assure refund of deposit.
Check-In at 4:00 pm
Check-Out by 12:00 pm
Pets - There are no pets allowed on the property.
Smoking - Smoking is strictly prohibited
Additional Yosemite National Park Resources
Complete Guide to Exploring Yosemite National Park - Complete guide to exploring Yosemite National Park.
Make sure also to check out my articles on Things to do in Yosemite, 1-Day in Yosemite guide, Curry Village, Yosemite Winter Guide, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Valley Guide, Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Midnight Yosemite Valley Floor Tour, and Bracebridge Dinner - which I have selected as one of my top 100 Experiences in the U.S. National Park!
Yosemite National Park Lodges
Complete Guide to Yosemite National Park Lodges - Guide to all of Yosemite National Park Lodges, including a map showing each location in the park. National Park Lodges include The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Wawona Hotel , Curry Village Cabins, and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.
Yosemite National Park Campgrounds
Yosemite National Park Camping Guide - Guide to all of Yosemite National Park's campgrounds including a map showing their location within the park. Campgrounds include the North Pines Campground, Upper Pines Campground, Lower Pines Campground, Camp 4, Wawona Campground, Housekeeping Camp, Hodgdon Meadow Campground, Porcupine Flat Campground, Bridalveil Creek Campground, Crane Flat Campground, Tamarack Flat Campground, Tuolumne Meadows Campground, and Yosemite Creek Campground.
Additional Information on Oakhurst/Bass Lake, California
Guide to exploring Oakhurst, California, the southern entrance to Yosemite
Bass Lake Camping Guide, including the Lupine Campground and the Cedar Bluff Campground.
Check out all of the National Parks in California and neighboring National Parks in Oregon, National Parks in Nevada, and National Parks in Arizona.
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