Ahwahnee Hotel
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The Ahwahnee Hotel is an impressive 80-year-old stone, wood and glass destination hotel in Yosemite National Park California on the floor of Yosemite Valley. It is a premiere example of National Park Service Rustic architecture.
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[edit] Construction
The Ahwahnee Hotel was designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed the Zion Lodge, Bryce Canyon Lodge, and Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge, with interior design directed by Dr. Phyllis Ackerman and Professor Arthur Upham Pope[1]. The site for the Hotel is below the Royal Arches rock formation in a meadow area that had served in the past as a village for the native Miwoks, who formerly lived in the Valley, and a stables complex known as Kenneyville. The site was chosen for its views of many of the iconic sights in Yosemite, including Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Glacier Point, and its exposure to the sun allowing for natural heating.[2]
The Hotel is constructed of 5,000 tons (4,535 t) of rough-cut granite, 1,000 tons (907 t) of steel, and 30,000 feet (9,140 m) of timber.[2] The 'wood siding' and 'structural timber' on the exterior of the Hotel is actually formed of stained concrete poured into molds to simulate a wood pattern.[1] Concrete was chosen as the material for the outside 'wood' elements to add fire resistance to the Hotel. Construction lasted 11 months and had a cost of US$1,225,000 upon completion in July 1927.[2]
[edit] History
Almost immediately after opening, the first of many alterations were made to the Hotel. In 1928, a roof garden and dance hall were converted into a private apartment after the dance hall failed to draw an audience. It was found that the load bearing trusses in the dining room were barely adequate to support the snow load on the roof and potential earthquake stresses. This led to the trusses being reinforced in 1931-32.[1]
When the Prohibition was rescinded in 1933, a private dining room was converted into the "El Dorado Diggins" bar, themed to the California Gold Rush period.[1]
1943 saw the United States Navy take over the Hotel for use as a convalescent hospital. Some of the changes made to the Hotel by the Navy were repainting of the interior, conversion of chauffer and maid rooms into guest rooms and enclosure of the original porte-cochere.[1]
The 1950s, 60s and 70s brought modernizations to the Hotel including fire escapes, a fire alarm system, smoke detectors and a sprinkler system along with the outdoor swimming pool and automatic elevators.[1]
2003-2004 saw a major roof overhaul, where virtually the entire slate-tile roof, and copper gutter system was replaced. The project cost approximately 4 million US dollars, and is especially noted for its 97% material recycling rate.
[edit] Lodging
The Ahwahnee Hotel's 150,000 foot² (13,935 m²) Y-shaped building[1] has 99 hotel rooms, parlors and suites, each being accented with original Native American designs. 24 cottages bring the total number of rooms to 123.[3] A room off the main lobby features skiing and Yosemite memorabilia. The building itself is designed to blend harmoniously with the nearby Yosemite Valley cliffs. Prices per night range from $400 to $900.
[edit] Trivia
The lobby of the Ahwahnee Hotel was the inspiration for the hotel interior sets for Stanley Kubrick's film, The Shining.[4] Many people have come to Yosemite Valley believing the Ahwahnee to be the "Shining" hotel as a result.
The only movie to have been filmed in part at the Hotel was The Caine Mutiny, which features several of the main characters on vacation in Yosemite
The Ahwahnee was also the primary inspiration for the Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland.
The name Ahwahnee is from the Miwok name for Yosemite Valley. The word means "valley that looks like a gaping mouth".[5] The name Ahwahnee first appeared in Lafayette Bunnell's Discovery of the Yosemite, and the Indian war of 1851, which led to that event. Bunnell wrote that Chief Tenaya was the "founder of the Pai-Ute colony in Ah-wah-ne"..[6]
Every year Ahwahnee Heritage Days are celebrated in the park.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Harrison, Laura Soullière (February 26, 2001). The Ahwahnee Hotel. Architecture in the Parks: A National Historic Landmark Theme Study. National Park Service - Department of the Interior. Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- ^ a b c The Ahwahnee History. Yosemite National Park. Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (2003). Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- ^ The Ahwahnee. Yosemite National Park. Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (2003). Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- ^ Trivia for The Shining. IMDB. Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- ^ Schmidt, Thomas (2006). Yosemite National Park Road Guide. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic. ISBN 0-7922-5485-6.
- ^ Discovery of the Yosmite, and the Indian War of 1851, Which Led to That Event. Above California. Retrieved on July 8, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Hobbs, Thomas A. (2003). Ahwahnee Hotel. Web Portal Foundation. Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- Dining Out: Ahwahnee Hotel Kitchen (Yosemite, California). Cooking For Engineers (January 22, 2005). Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- Virtual tour of the Ahwahnee Hotel. Lots of photos, may load slowly.
