THE AHWAHNEE: A HOTEL I DIDN’T EXPECT
I had come to Yosemite expecting giant trees, towering cliffs and breathtaking views. I wasn’t prepared for the Ahwahnee Hotel.
In the middle of a national park, I found a hotel that looked more like a grand mountain fortress than a place to spend the night.
Inside, there were enormous fireplaces, tall windows, wooden beams and colourful decorations. Every corner seemed to have something worth looking at.
I didn’t know where to look first.
My eyes were busy taking it all in, while my camera tried to keep up.
I suspect my memory gave up somewhere along the way.
And yet, for all its grandeur, the Ahwahnee felt warm and welcoming.
We settled down for a meal, and the food and atmosphere were just as enjoyable as the surroundings.
There’s an interesting story behind the hotel.
Opened in 1927, it was the idea of Stephen T. Mather, America’s first National Park Service director.
He wanted to attract visitors to Yosemite.
Architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, already known for designing lodges in national parks, brought the idea to life.
I had come to admire what nature had created. I hadn’t expected a hotel to give it such remarkable company.
The Ahwahnee didn’t compete with Yosemite.
Somehow, it belonged.
