Few Muir Woods tours ever seem complete without a stop into the café at the entrance to the park. But this Sunday the current concession pavilion at Muir Woods National Monument will close after twenty years of business by the current contractor. But do not despair; while the concession building that houses the gift shop and café will be closed through the end of April, on May 1st, a much improved environment and menu be born.
Officials put the gift and concession business out to bid in order to aggressively pursue a sustainable approach to the building and the food on offer to have a better impact on the many visitors, and reduce any negative impact on the earth. The contract winners have secured a ten year relationship with Muir Woods National Monument and plan to offer the healthiest fare anywhere within the National Parks.
The new pavilion will be called, the Muir Woods Trading Company, will offer locally grown foods and ingredients – a minimum of fifty percent from within Marin County, and eighty percent from within a sixty mile radius. The menu will also be designed for health and while this is the first of such a movement, the rest of the national park system will soon be following down this path. The effort is intended to promote not only healthy and responsible eating habits and organic foods, but also spread the mindset of environmental values across the board with everything in which the National Parks Service is involved. During the six weeks of remodeling, Muir Woods National Monument will have a food and drink kiosk on the premises.
