The Historic Ahwahnee Hotel has been serving Yosemite tourists for 82 years and it has been determined by the acting National Park Superintendent that a facility update is long overdue. The Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan was announced to the public on August 3rd and in compliance with both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) will begin with an Environmental Assessment (EA) in the near future. A public scoping of the Environmental Assessment will be open to the public from August 13th to September 26th and it is advised that written comments be post marked no later than September 26th. The purpose of this first step is to develop a comprehensive plan for phased, long term rehabilitation of the Ahwahnee National Landmark hotel and the surrounding facilities.
The planning process is very important to the timely and budget conscious completion of this project which will include restoration, preservation and protection of the historic integrity of the hotel. The rehabilitation also takes into account the improvement of energy efficient operations and the enhancement of visitor's experiences through improved operational efficiency, increased accessibility and rehabilitation of historic resources. It's also necessary to update the hotel's safety standards, building codes and accessibility for the disabled. For more information regarding Yosemite National Park and the Historic Ahwahnee Hotel please visit www.nps.gov/yose.
