Yosemite West

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Yosemite West (pronounced "Yo-SEM-it-tee") is a private community of resort homes located in the southern area of Yosemite National Park just off Wawona Road, a continuation of State Route 41 from Fresno. It is situated one mile south of the Chinquapin intersection of Wawona Road with the Glacier Point Road at an altitude of 5,100-6,300 ft (1,554-1,920 m). The GPS coordinates are N 37° 38.938’ W 119° 43.310’ [1]. Although appearing to be very near to the community of El Portal, this community is part of Henness Ridge, towering nearly 3,000 feet (915 m) above the southern banks of the Merced River and the State Route 140 from Mariposa. Therefore, there is no direct access to Yosemite West from HWY 140. To get to Yosemite West from this direction, you need to enter the park through the Arch Rock entrance along Hwy 140 from Merced. This stretch of HWY 140, also known as El Portal Road, connects with the Wawona Road at the Valley where you continue south to the entrance to Yosemite West.

View of El Portal, 3,000 feet (915 m) below Yosemite West.

As part of Mariposa County, Yosemite West is a subdivision of 294 lots on approximately 120 acres (.36 square km), complete with underground utilities and paved roads. To date there are 118 developed lots, including two condominium buildings with a total of 48 units. It is surrounded on three sides by Yosemite National Park property.

Some homes are owned by permanent residents of the area while others are resort homes, some of which are rented on a daily and weekly basis by visitors to Yosemite National Park. These vacation rentals provide much needed funds for infrastructure repairs.

Occupation of the Yosemite West area did not begin, however with the subdivision that opened in 1967. It began many centuries earlier with the North American Indian Tribes of the Sierra. Before the advent of the white man, Indians used Yosemite West as their camp ground and hunting area. Even today a search for the obsidian chips used as arrowheads can provide an interesting days outing in Yosemite West.

Yosemite West, as seen in winter. In springtime, this area is lush with dogwoods in bloom, and alive with the calls of the jays and squirrels

1 Yosemite logging: timber and growth of the Yosemite railroads
2 Getting there: access through the Yosemite National Park South entrance
3 The community: a look at the homes of Yosemite West
4 Photos of the Yosemite West homes
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Yosemite logging: timber and growth of the Yosemite railroads

Weathered Incense Cedar Tree at Entrance to Yosemite West

As early as 1912 the cutting of timber in the Chinquapin area was started and logs were hauled to Merced Falls. The Yosemite Valley Railroad was built to carry out the lumber harvested from the vast supply of Sugar Pines found along the Merced River canyon. Immortalized in author Hank Johnston’s book, “Whistles Blow No More”[2], the Yosemite Lumber Company logged in this area. In fact, the remains of the longest Incline rail system ever built are located at what is now Camp One Resort[3], just a short distance away from the Yosemite West development. The incline rose to a height of 3,100 feet (945 m) above the Merced River. The Camp One incline was used to lower logs to the Merced River at El Portal from the logging area. One of the stops on the Yosemite Valley Railroad line was the lumber mill built by the Yosemite Lumber Company where the wood was planed, finished, dried and stored. The lumber company is gone now and trees have fully returned with most 80+ feet (24+ m) tall, surrounding most homes on the hill. The old Shay logging train grades have been replaced with paved roads and underground utilities, giving it a pleasant rural atmosphere.

[edit] Getting there: access through the Yosemite National Park South entrance

Sign as seen from Wawona Road (HWY 41).

You can drive up Highway 41 through Fresno and Madera counties to enter the Park through the South Entrance. This is the best way to go if you want to see the Mariposa Grove, the Wawona area, and Glacier Point on the way to Yosemite Valley. Highway 41 becomes the Wawona Road when it enters Yosemite. Henness Ridge Road is the junction off HWY 41 which leads to Yosemite West.[4]

North of Yosemite West is Chinquapin junction. Located midway between Wawona, Glacier Point, and the Yosemite Valley, the junction is the turn off for Badger Pass Ski Area Resort[5] and Glacier Point. During the winter months, Badger Pass skiing is just minutes away.

[edit] The community: a look at the homes of Yosemite West

Yosemite West is a community of more than 100 private residences and resort homes which can be accessed from HWY41 via Henness Ridge Road, approximately seventeen miles inside the South Entrance of the Park.

One of the Yosemite West homes.

The land for this community was purchased and developed in the 1960’s by Yosemite Highlands, Inc., a group of business and professional men from the San Jose area. They envisioned a unique Mountain Resort area accessible year round for leisure time recreation. A complete economic feasibility study was made by the Economic Research Association. [6] Six development schemes produced by Victor Gruen Associates[7] of Los Angeles, were analyzed before settling on the one now in effect.

Coyote in Yosemite West

This family oriented environment is unique in Yosemite. Unlike other communities in the park, this area was designed with all utilities underground. There are no power poles or telephone lines to detract from the serenity of living in a forest. Views from your windows are filled with evergreens, oaks and manzanita. Mule deer, squirrels, coyotes, Steller's Jays and other animals frequent the area, so it is common to see them from your window, even an occasional bear[8]. With an approximate altitude of 5,500 feet (1,676 m), Yosemite West is higher than accommodations in the valley. During the summer, this affords a cooler environment by 10 – 20 °F (5 - 11 °C) degrees than in the Valley.

[edit] Photos of the Yosemite West homes

A uniquely designed mountain home nested in the trees of a Yosemite West hillside	This home is owned by a couple, who are writers - thus the name "Writers' Retreat"	This 3,000 sq foot (279 sq meter), tri-level home, known as Yosemite Pine Arbor Retreat, was built in 1991.	Beautiful cottages, owner built and maintained with pride. Bear carvings everywhere.
One of several homes in Yosemite West, designed and built by Ray Doblick