The Ahwahnee - A Grand Hotel in Disguise

Photo: Almonroth, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

A stop on Yosemite Valley, a free self-guided tour.

At first glance this massive hotel looks like it is built of timber and stone. Look closer: much of the wood is actually concrete, poured into molds and stained to look like logs and beams, which made it far more fire resistant than a real log lodge.

The Ahwahnee opened in 1927, designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed lodges at Zion and Bryce Canyon. Its interiors blend Art Deco, Arts and Crafts, Middle Eastern and Native American design motifs. It's a National Historic Landmark, and its guests have included Queen Elizabeth II, several presidents and Walt Disney.

You don't need to be a guest to look around. Step into the Great Lounge, with its tall windows topped by stained glass and its two enormous fireplaces, then walk out to the back lawn for views of the Royal Arches and Half Dome. From 2016 to 2019 the hotel was briefly called the Majestic Yosemite Hotel during a trademark dispute, before its old name came back.

Getting here: Walk about three-quarters of a mile east from the village on the paved path, or ride the free shuttle to The Ahwahnee stop.

Did you know?: The hotel's interiors helped inspire the look of the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film The Shining.

Photo op: From the back lawn, step well back to fit the hotel's stone-and-timber front with the Royal Arches rising behind it.

Nearby: Restrooms off the lobby. The hotel's dining room and bar are open to the public; check current hours before you go.

More on Wikipedia: Ahwahnee Hotel · Gilbert Stanley Underwood · The Shining

The Ahwahnee - A Grand Hotel in Disguise

Stops on this tour