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43-490: Camp Curry , now known as Curry Village , was established in 1899 at the base of Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park . Developed as an alternative to the first-class Sentinel Hotel , it offered a more affordable, rustic lodging experience. The camp became an iconic part of Yosemite's history, known for its family-oriented atmosphere, nightly campfires , signature tent cabins, and the reinstitution of

86-602: A direct, drivable route to the point. The federal government took control of the road in 1917, the same year the Glacier Point Hotel opened. Glacier Point can be reached from the Valley via Glacier Point Road. During the summer, Glacier Point is often crowded with tourists . Tours by bus are also available and take about four hours. The road is usually open from June through October. In winter, Glacier Point Road closes due to snow, and access to Glacier Point from

129-659: A five-year lease from the National Park Service. The camp's iconic Firefall attraction was reinstated during this period. Meanwhile, the Sierra Club raised concerns about the camp's expanding boundaries, which were encroaching on the LeConte Memorial Lodge . In response, the Currys funded the relocation of the lodge to its current site. By 1921, Camp Curry saw further improvements, including

172-474: A foot injury, leaving management of Camp Curry to his wife and a son. Between 1917 and 1929, Camp Curry in Yosemite underwent significant expansion and development under the leadership of Foster Curry, who took over after his father's death in 1917. Foster sought to transform the camp by replacing tents with permanent structures, including bungalows, a bowling alley, and a social hall. His efforts were backed by

215-467: A little. California live oaks and ponderosa pines intermingle with the blue oaks as it nears Mariposa . In Mariposa, it briefly runs concurrently with State Route 49 . A ponderosa pine forest borders the highway on both sides as it passes through Midpines . As it approaches Briceburg , the roadway follows a steep, winding grade down to the Merced River valley. The highway then runs alongside

258-591: A low-cost lodging option with framed bases and tented roofs, introduced in the early 20th century. Key historic structures at Curry Village include the 1914 entrance sign, the 1904 Old Registration Office, and the 1913 dance hall, now the Stoneman House, which has been converted into guest lodging. Other notable buildings are the 1916 Foster Curry cabin and the 1917 Mother Curry Bungalow. The surrounding landscape, offering views of Glacier Point and Stoneman Meadow, has remained largely unchanged, continuing to define

301-410: A realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary ( for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions ). Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines;

344-559: A reduction in the camp’s footprint and tent density, though progress was slow due to legal battles and public opposition. In 1999, another rockfall resulted in rock debris impacting the talus slopes below, some of which extended into areas near Curry Village. Another rockfall occurred in Yosemite National Park on the morning of October 8, 2008, near Curry Village. Park officials estimated the rockfall volume at approximately 6,000 cubic metres (7,800 cu yd), from

387-493: A release halfway up the granite face above the village. Three visitors received minor injuries, and were treated and released. The rockfall destroyed two hard-sided visitor cabins and three tent cabins; three others were partially damaged. The Park Service evacuated visitors to Curry Village. Following a study by geologists, in November 2008, the park permanently closed 233 visitor accommodations and 43 concessioner-housing units at

430-413: A rockfall. The double-walled design, featuring insulation between the walls, was found to harbor deer mice , whose droppings were believed to have caused the outbreak through airborne transmission. The National Park Service immediately closed all 91 Signature Tent Cabins but continued operations at its 300 single-wall tent cabins. Glacier Point The extreme point of the promontory of Glacier Point

473-585: A rustic style, these bungalows are smaller, simpler versions of Mother Curry’s Bungalow and the Foster Curry Cabin. They feature half-log frames with diagonal tongue-and-groove siding in herringbone patterns, split-log gable ends, and wood-shingled roofs with overhanging eaves. The units also have casement windows, wooden porches, and river run stone foundations. The bungalows are well-maintained, structurally sound, and have been recently refurbished with updated bathroom facilities. Curry Village has faced

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516-508: A series of natural disasters and safety challenges, including fires, floods, rockfalls, and a deadly hantavirus outbreak. In the 1970s, Camp Curry was targeted by arsonists, resulting in the destruction of several key structures. Fires destroyed the Spencer dining room in 1973, the original gift shop and half of the old cafeteria in 1975, and the cobblestone bathhouse in 1977. Curry Village faced significant challenges from flooding throughout

559-427: A store, a lodge, a mountaineering school, and a post office. The buildings are designed with a low profile, featuring gabled or hipped roofs with wide overhanging eaves and a uniform dark color, except for the tents. This design was intended to help the structures blend into the natural environment while preserving a sense of primitiveness that enhances the camp’s overall character. It also features numerous tent cabins,

602-552: A trademark dispute between the National Park Service and a private concessions company, Delaware North . The name was restored in 2019 along with others in Yosemite, upon settlement of the dispute. Curry Village, originally Camp Curry, offers rustic lodging near Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. The complex, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, includes cabins, dining facilities,

645-527: A traffic light system to allow drivers to circumvent the original slide damage area. Plans are underway for construction of a rock shed through the slide area to restore the original alignment. The road was closed in 2018 due to the Ferguson Fire . Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964 , based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects

688-512: Is wholly bare, but on the slopes below, in the hollow to the west, and on the wooded slope above, glacial material is abundant. Its glacial origin is definitely proved by the presence in it of rocks derived from Little Yosemite Valley and the Sierra Nevada . There are three types of glacially-deposited rock at Glacier Point: In the late 1800s, the first formal trail to Glacier Point was constructed. This steep, rugged path became known as

731-619: The Badger Pass Ski Area is only by ski or snowshoe . Glacier Point can also be reached via the Four Mile Trail , which ascends the 3,200 feet (980 m) in 4.6 miles (7.4 km). This moderate to strenuous trail can provide access to Glacier Point when the Glacier Point Road is closed. Note, however, that the trail can be extremely hazardous when covered with snow or ice, so it is usually closed by

774-485: The Four Mile Trail , which was completed in 1872, allowing visitors to hike to the summit for sweeping views of Yosemite Valley. In 1882, the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company was granted permission to build a stage road to the summit, offering a less strenuous, though longer, route for horse-drawn vehicles. By the early 1900s, the road was improved for automobiles, allowing easier access for visitors with

817-761: The Great Depression and World War II , leading to a focus on maintenance rather than expansion. The Yosemite Park & Curry Company introduced economy rates to attract budget-conscious visitors, while making essential upgrades to infrastructure, such as electrical systems and sanitation facilities. Despite the rise in visitation, particularly after the war, no significant new developments occurred, and proposed expansions were postponed. The company’s efforts were centered on maintaining and improving existing facilities to accommodate growing demand. Post-war, demand surged, with 77,720 arrivals recorded in 1952. From 1956 to 1970, Camp Curry underwent significant changes under

860-584: The Mission 66 development plan. Aimed at accommodating the post-war surge in visitors, improvements included expanded dining areas, upgraded parking, and new restroom facilities. The National Park Service and the Yosemite Park & Curry Company worked together to remodel and modernize the camp, replacing outdated structures with new lodging options and guest services. In 1968, the Firefall attraction

903-646: The Park Service from December through May. Another 8.2 miles (13.2 km) trail runs from Glacier Point down to the Valley, via the Panorama Trail, past Nevada and Vernal Falls. Hikers may also access trailheads to the Panorama trail and the Pohono trail. In 2020, the National Park Service announced major road works on Glacier Point Road in 2022. Due to this work, Glacier Point Road will be closed for

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946-631: The San Francisco Bay Area or other parts of Northern California to Yosemite Valley and the southern portion of Yosemite would transfer from Highway 99 to Highway 140 at this point. For those coming from San Jose and the rest of the Silicon Valley , the most direct, fastest route is State Route 152 east; then the roads of Road 9, Bliss Road, Sandy Mush Road, and Plainsburg Road to reach Highway 140 in Planada . (Those going to

989-621: The San Joaquin Valley at Interstate 5 near Gustine , and runs east into Sierra Nevada , terminating in Yosemite National Park . Heading east from I-5, the highway passes Gustine; it then jogs to cross the San Joaquin River . It roughly marks the southern edge of the farmable land around Livingston . It intersects with State Route 99 in Merced , which it overlaps for a few miles. Travelers coming from most regions of

1032-724: The State Scenic Highway System ; however, only the part of the road from Mariposa to El Portal is designated as a scenic highway. The "All-Weather Highway" (now State Route 140) opened in 1926, ensuring year-long visitation and delivery of supplies under normal conditions.[74] NPS 1989, p. 113. In June 2006, the road between El Portal and Mariposa was closed due to a rock slide. The Ferguson Slide buried about 600 feet (180 m) of SR140 between Cedar Lodge and Briceburg Visitor Center between SR-49 and SR-41 . A small detour opened in August, 2006, with

1075-550: The Yosemite Firefall . Camp Curry’s success helped lay the foundation for modern park accommodations and had a lasting influence on the development of national park concessions . The resort is 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of Yosemite Village , at an elevation of 4,003 feet (1,220 m), and occupies a central position in the Yosemite Valley . It lies on a talus cone of debris from old rockfalls. In 1970

1118-580: The 20th century. Major floods in 1950, 1956, and 1997 caused disruptions to the camp's operations, although no direct structural damage occurred. In response, services and facilities from other flooded areas were temporarily relocated to Curry Village. These recurring floods underscored the vulnerability of the camp’s location along the Merced River , prompting ongoing adjustments to infrastructure and park management. A deadly rockfall in 1980 prompted safety overhauls and plans to phase out operations in high-risk areas. The 1980 General Management Plan called for

1161-496: The Merced River for about 20 miles (32 km) to the Yosemite National Park entrance, after passing through El Portal . The upper stretch of the Merced River valley below the park, which the highway follows, is designated as Wild and Scenic River Area . The area separates Sierra National Forest (south) and Stanislaus National Forest (north). Inside Yosemite, state routes are federally maintained and are not included in

1204-657: The Mountain House. They advertised "a good bed and clean napkin with every meal" for $ 2 a day, equivalent to $ 73 in 2023 dollars. The opening of the Yosemite Valley Railroad in 1907 significantly increased accessibility to the park, fueling Camp Curry's growth. By 1915, automobile travel brought even more visitors, enabling the camp to host 1,000 guests. Over time, Camp Curry expanded to include 500 tents and 200 cabins and bungalows. In 1917, David Curry unexpectedly died from blood poisoning caused by

1247-623: The base of Glacier Point , began with just seven tents, a cook, and a team of college students who worked in exchange for room and board. At the time, the only other lodging option in Yosemite Valley was the Sentinel Hotel , part of the Washburn Brothers' transportation and accommodation monopoly. The Currys sought to provide a more affordable and rustic experience, where visitors could enjoy nature without sacrificing

1290-439: The cabins lacked doors, but wooden frames with doors were added in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The tent-style accommodations have been part of Camp Curry since its inception. This style of canvas cabin was also commonly found in Yosemite's High Country camps. Between 1918 and 1922, 48 bungalows with baths were built at Curry Village, consisting of 2 fourplex and 46 duplex units, all remaining on their original sites. Designed in

1333-617: The camp’s setting. The layout of Curry Village, with distinct areas for lodging, services, and recreation, has been preserved, though adjustments have been made over the years to address safety concerns, such as rockfall hazards. Many of the original tent cabins remain in Curry Village, retaining the rustic charm that defined the camp’s early appeal. The "Canvas Cabins" at Curry Village come in two sizes: 2-bed units (9'10" x 11'10") and 4-bed units (11'10" x 14'). These cabins feature wood frames, platforms, and heavy canvas covers. Originally,

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1376-469: The comfort and community of a well-managed resort. The camp quickly proved successful, hosting 292 guests in its first summer despite logistical challenges, including reliance on a two-week freight wagon supply route from Merced . The Currys emphasized informal hospitality, with nightly campfire entertainments and the revival of the Yosemite firefall , a tradition originally introduced by James McCauley of

1419-582: The community changed its post office name to Curry Village. The village was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 1, 1979. Camp Curry was founded in 1899 by David A. Curry and Jennie Etta Foster, later known as Mother Curry. The couple, former teachers with experience running western camping tours in Yellowstone , introduced a new approach to park accommodations by using tents and tent cabins. Their first camp, located at

1462-462: The entire season in 2022. Glacier Point will only be accessible by foot during this year. There will also be road works in 2023, but only delays are predicted for this work. 37°43′49″N 119°34′25″W  /  37.7304°N 119.5736°W  / 37.7304; -119.5736 California State Route 140 State Route 140 ( SR 140 ) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California , 102 miles (164 km) in length. It begins in

1505-705: The introduction of a Kiddie Kamp and electric-powered facilities. However, tensions with the Park Service and management disputes led to Foster Curry's departure in 1923, with his brother-in-law, Don Tresidder , taking over. In 1925, the Curry Camping Company merged with the Yosemite National Park Company to form the Yosemite Park and Curry Company (YP&CC), which was run by Tresidder. This consolidation, which

1548-413: The landscape a golden color. Western meadowlarks , American kestrels , red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures are frequently glimpsed. A few blue oaks can be seen as the highway leaves the valley and begins to climb through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada . They become more and more numerous as the elevation increases. As the highway passes through Catheys Valley the vegetation begins to diversify

1591-640: The north side of the river. State Route 41 /Wawona Road intersects with Southside Drive just east of the split. SR 140 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System , and is part of the National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration . SR 140 is eligible to be included in

1634-473: The northern portion of Yosemite would have instead taken either I-580 and I-205 leaving the Bay Area, then State Route 120 east through Manteca , or State Route 132 east through Modesto .) After exiting Highway 99, Highway 140 continues through Planada, after which the farmland gives way to grazing land. It is quite dry in the summer due to California's Mediterranean climate , and the dry grass gives

1677-539: The site out of the hazard zone. In August 2012, the National Park Service confirmed three cases of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and identified one probable case among visitors who stayed in June at Yosemite's Curry Village. Two people had died from the virus, prompting concerns for the estimated 10,000 visitors potentially exposed during their stays. Officials traced the outbreak to the park's recently constructed Signature Tent Cabins, built to replace accommodations lost to

1720-439: The site, about one third of the total units available in Curry Village. 36 units were reopened. Following a three-year study at Curry Village, the National Park Service announced in August 2011 that it would remove 72 buildings located within the rockfall hazard zone. The mostly hard-sided structures, including the Foster Curry Cabin, were to be documented and historic materials were salvaged. Replacement tent cabins were added to

1763-415: The state route logs. The highway continues into the park as El Portal Drive, following the Merced River to Yosemite Valley . The road intersects with Big Oak Flat Road, providing a connection to State Route 120 . El Portal Drive then splits into a one way loop road to connect the rest of the valley, heading east as Southside Drive on the south side of the river and then looping back west as Northside Drive on

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1806-728: Was encouraged by the Secretary of the Interior , streamlined operations, enhanced visitor services, and became the foundation for the single concessionaire model used in the park today. The completion of the All-Year Highway in 1926, linking Merced to Yosemite Valley, sparked a 690% increase in visitation, bringing year-round guests and driving demand for winter sports. Under Dr. Don Tresidder's leadership, Camp Curry responded by expanding its offerings to include an ice rink, toboggan slide, and ski jump. Curry faced challenges from

1849-430: Was permanently discontinued due to environmental concerns, and the camp was renamed Curry Village to avoid confusion with nearby campgrounds. Despite ambitious plans to expand and enhance the park's infrastructure, many projects were delayed or altered, reflecting ongoing challenges with balancing development and preserving Yosemite’s natural environment. In 2016, the name was temporarily changed to Half Dome Village due to

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