The Ahwahnee: Yosemite’s Haunted Hotel
Located in Yosemite National Park, The Ahwahnee is the most luxurious property in the park. The site of fairy tale weddings and grand holiday celebrations, this historic structure boasts a subtle mix of Art Deco, Native American and Middle Eastern architectural styles. Not only is it a cornerstone in Yosemite history, but according to many accounts it’s also haunted. The good news is, in spite of its ghostly residents, numerous renovations have made to this historic property over the years; and today it’s an excellent choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers.
An Accessible Suite to Remember
Although the Ahwahnee boasts a nice variety of accessible rooms, the accessible junior suite — room 206 — is the perfect choice for any national park getaway. Access features include wide doorways, barrier-free pathways, and plenty of room in this spacious suite which occupies the space of two standard hotel rooms.
The sitting room has a 12-inch high single sofa bed, two end tables, a coffee table, two side chairs, an armoire and a mini refrigerator. There’s level access to the adjacent bedroom, which features equally good access, and is furnished with a 30-inch high king-sized bed with wheelchair-access on both sides, two bedside tables, a small table with two chairs, an armoire and a mini refrigerator.
The bathroom has a full five-foot turning radius, and is equipped with a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a fold-down shower bench. The toilet grab bars are located on the left and back walls (as seated), and the bathroom also has a roll-under sink.
Top it off with a lowered peephole, lever handles and a lowered clothing rod, and you have a very well designed and functional accessible room. It’s really one of the nicest accessible rooms on the property.
A Little Haunted?
The public areas of the hotel are equally accessible. As you stroll through the lobby and adjacent rooms you can’t help but notice the towering ceilings, stained glass windows and the massive fireplace in this historic property. And while we’re talking historic, lets also talk haunted.
The spirit of Mary Curry Tresidder, who once operated the hotel, is said to frequent the sixth floor. Many guests have reported feeling her presence there, and a few folks have even witnessed her dancing in the common areas. And then there’s the spirit of Mary’s husband Donald Tressider, whose footsteps are sometimes heard on the stairway. Some guests have also reported seeing figures of soldiers in the hallways; a throwback to the time when the hotel served as a convalescent hospital during World War II.
And then there’s the mysterious JFK “haunting”. The former U.S. president stayed at the hotel in 1962. He reportedly requested a rocking chair for his suite during his visit. The chair was subsequently removed after the president departed; however it’s been known to magically reappear in the suite from time to time. Ghostly shenanigans or spring cleaning furniture rearrangement? You be the judge. In the end, even if the hotel isn’t really haunted, it’s a popular stop for diehard horror movie fans, as the property served as the inspiration for the grand interior shots of the fictional Overlook Hotel in The Shining. Haunted or not, The Ahwahnee makes a great wheelchair-accessible home base for any Yosemite visit.
