One of the great historic hotels in the United States, this four-diamond luxury hotel is located deep within Yosemite National Park. Originally known as the Ahwahnee Hotel, the name was changed in 2016 following a trademark battle.
Despite its appearance, the hotel is not actually constructed of much wood. Architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood instead relied on steel, granite, and concrete to reduce its flammability. That sets it apart from other old, luxury hotels such as the Hotel del Coronado and the Grand Hotel, which were built primarily with wood.
The hotel has earned a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence and appears on multiple lists of top national park hotels, including roundup from Condé Nast Traveler and Vogue. Curbed also featured the hotel on its map of grand old-school resort hotels. Accommodation can cost up to $1,300 per night.
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Many famous guests have stayed in the hotel, from U.S. presidents to British royalty. The hotel's lobby and lounge also served as inspiration for the fictional Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film "The Shining." The Majestic Yosemite is just one of several historic American lodges involved in that film: The Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood was used for exterior shots, while the Stanley Hotel is credited as the inspiration for the original story by Stephen King.
Keep reading for a closer look at the iconic hotel and some of its notable guests.
Source: Visit California
Source: National Park Service
Source: Google Maps