Chris Falkenstein

The Ahwahnee is a National Historic Landmark.

The Ahwahnee, located in Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, includes a National Historic Landmark hotel, guest cottages, an employee dormitory, and associated grounds and landscaping. Built in 1927, The Ahwahnee hotel is an iconic landmark and is used year-round by both overnight and day visitors to Yosemite Valley.

Why Undertake this Project?
After more than 80 years in service, the hotel and associated structures are in need of rehabilitation because:

• Facilities at The Ahwahnee are not fully compliant with the most recent building safety and accessibility codes including:
• • International Building Code (IBC)
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and IBC seismic requirements
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Many of the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems serving The Ahwahnee facilities are aging and need to be replaced and updated.
• Some historic hotel finishes and landscape components have aged or been altered over the years, potentially affecting the historic integrity of the property.
• The current operational layout of some working areas reduces the efficiency of providing a high level of visitor services.
  

What Does this Project Entail?
The purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive plan for phased, long-term rehabilitation of The Ahwahnee National Historic Landmark hotel and associated guest cottages, employee dormitory, and landscaped grounds in order to:

• Enhance visitor and employee safety by bringing the building and grounds into compliance with current building, fire, life-safety, and seismic standards
• Restore, preserve, and protect the historic integrity and character-defining features of The Ahwahnee by rehabilitating aged or altered historic finishes and contributing landscape features
• Improve hotel operations and energy efficiency by repairing or replacing outdated or inefficient building systems and components
• Protect and enhance the visitor experience at The Ahwahnee through improved operationsl efficiency, increased accessibility and rehabilitation of historic resources

What Are the Alternatives?
Project alternatives have not yet been developed. The architectural team is currently evaluating the operational needs and code compliance needs of The Ahwahnee. These needs, along with recommendations from recent Cultural Landscape and Historic Structures assessments, detailed seismic studies, and issues and concerns identified during the public scoping will inform the development of concept alternatives for this project.

What is the Schedule for this Project?
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) review are being conducted concurrently. The scoping period for the rehabilitation project is August 13 through September 26, 2009. The public review and comment period for the Environmental Assessment and NHPA Section 106 Determination of Effect is scheduled for Summer 2010.

Get Involved 
Public Participation  is essential for the success of this and all other park improvement projects. Comments may be submitted through September 26, 2009, by the following means:

• Online via the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website
• Email
• Mail: Superintendent
  Attn: The Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan EA
  P.O. Box 577
  Yosemite, CA 95389
• Fax: (209)379-1294

Fact Sheet [PDF 111kb]