GROWTH OF AN INDUSTRY PART 2

The new Hwy. 140 reached Mariposa town in l924. In order for
visitors to access Yosemite, they were directed to Mormon Bar, up
Bootjack Road turning left at Elliott's Corner and over Chowchilla
Mtn. to Wawona. For a few years this was the major road route to
Yosemite from Central and South California. From Northern California
the Big Oak Flat Road was the one most used. The Coulterville Road
fell into disuse because of the steep decent into the Merced River
Canyon at Cascades. The Yosemite Valley Rail Road was still a major
source of visitors to the Park and would remain so until the opening
of the river road in l926. Needless to say, the hotel business in
Mariposa was poor until the road opened with the Schlageter Hotel and
the Mariposa Hotel being the major accommodations. The Stoddard Bus
Line in Merced attempted to entice visitors by offering a package
that included a dinner and stay at the Schlageter Hotel but was not
particularly successful.

Along the new Hwy.140 there were cabins at Cap's Light House,
Bridgeport and Mormon Bar. I know that cabins were built at Bootjack
(one may still be there) but they were pretty primitive as were most
of the tourist accommodations in the mountains at that time. The
goal for most travelers to the south end of Yosemite was Wawona and
by l924 there was the new Annex, the Swim Tank and Golf Course. All
quite upscale for resort living. By 1926, when the new Hwy. 140 made
it through to El Portal to catch the old road that the Railroad had
built to Cascades, the Ahwahnee Hotel was opened to establish the
standard for upscale accommodations.

The opening of Hwy. 140 changed a number of things. First, travel
by the Yosemite Valley Railroad decidedly declined. Had it not
been for the opening of logging operations at Incline and other
industrial activities along the Merced River, it is doubtful that the
railroad could have continued as long as it did. Bus travel by the
new highway started with Yosemite Park and Curry Company becoming the
franchise carrier over the route. The road between El Portal and
Yosemite Valley was improved with help from the Calif. State
Automobile Assn., and the preferred way to visit Yosemite became the
Merced River route. In addition, the low level road made Yosemite
Valley more desirable for year around travel.

For a number of reasons, small resorts sprang up all along the route
from Mariposa to Yosemite. First there was the fact that during the
hot summers, the cars tended to overheat requiring stopping and
getting water or at least letting the car cool off. Roadside water
sources were developed to provide water for man and auto in such
places as just beyond Briceburg. The rock wall for the water
fountain still exists where spring water once cooled the Model T.
Garages and gas stations developed. The Brice family was at the
bottom of the grade at the river, with facilities at Indian Flat.
The same could be said of such places as Summit Inn, Acorn Inn,
Midpines Lodge, Bear Creek, Hyatt's, Midpines Store (Carstens), King
Solomon's, the Octagon, Indian Lodge and El Portal.

Each place usually had a mechanic, water, lemonade, mementos and
canvas water bags which could hang over the radiator cap to be cooled
first by the air in front of the car, and then cool the car as the
water evaporated from the radiator. This was also a time before
automobile air conditioning and soda fountains just about at every
stop. Many of these road side rests had cabins for overnight and
some, like Indian Flat, had a dance floor.
Indian Flat started as a Ranchero until an oil company insisted on
building a gas station. The resident of the area, one Billy Lances,
sold his property that had been homesteaded, to the Associated Oil
Company. Within weeks, Lances Whippet Cabriolet was found submerged
in a deep hole in the Merced River. Nearly two weeks went by before
Lances body was found almost two miles downstream near the Portland
Cement limestone quarry. Four dollars was found in a sock on the
only partially clothed body. It was determined that Billy came to
his death as the result of an accident.

Most of these establishments remained until after WWII, although few
opened during the war, as there were no visitors. When the Navy took
over the Ahwahnee Hotel, the Yosemite Park and Curry Company shut
down keeping only a few employees for caretaking. Yosemite Park and Curry Company President Donald Tresidder, passed away in New York on a business trip and it became a bit of a problem to start up again after the war. New automobiles were hard to buy and gasoline was still in short supply. Jobs were hard to find for the returning servicemen until projects in Yosemite Parkand the logging and sawmill industry came up to speed.

Even in l951, Mariposa High had only 175 students and 27 graduates. Travel to Yosemite began slowly and most of the roadside resorts reopened. New
motels were built at the Yosemite Park line on land that had been private.
Each of the units were relatively small but modern. In spite of the
increasing travel, not all of them did well. Indian Flat and Indian
Lodge both were open, as well as Midpines Lodge, MeloDee Motel, and
all the majors in Mariposa such as Tenaya Motel, Fremont Motel,
Mariposa Auto Court, Mother Lode Motel, the Mariposa Hotel, and
Bagby's Auto Court. Rooms could be had at the Butterfly Market. The
first new motel was called the Pines, now Mother Lode. The Mariposa
Auto Court became Mariposa Lodge; the Tenaya became the Pioneer
Center, Bagby's became the River Rock Inn today. Whispering Pines
reopened and Hillside Cottages were built.

As visitation to Yosemite National Park began to grow, larger motels
and hotels were needed to accommodate the growing number of guests.
During the l960's it was not uncommon for all rooms to be filled by
4PM daily, with many travelers having to go back to Merced for
accommodations. The industry responded to develop the size and
variety of properties to meet the demand. When we first instituted
the TOT in the l960's it represented a small amount to the county
Treasury. This close of the fiscal year should show about $9 million
in bed tax, representing a sizable contribution to the economy of
Mariposa County. At 10% tax, this represents $90 mil in beds alone.
According to a recent economic study, the tourism industry in
Mariposa is worth in excess of $380 mil in revenues, wages and
values. It is our main industry by far. A distant second is
government of all types, while not income producing, still important
to the economic well being of the county...

Leroy Radanovich

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historical photos:
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This is a early day photo of the Mariposa Mine in
Mariposa County that is mentioned in the article to
the left by Mr. Radanovich.

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Mariposa in 1920

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All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a warm tone ready for framing
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Mariposa County Courthouse written by Leroy Radanovich and
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Mariposa in 1860


This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a warm tone ready for framing
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