YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — Concern over spread of COVID-19 is shuttering all hotels and restaurants in Yosemite National Park, including the historic Ahwahnee Hotel.
Park concessionaire Aramark announced late Monday that all park facilities will be closing Tuesday for at least the rest of the month. Roads and trails will remain open throughout the park.
The impacted facilities include the Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Lodge and Wawona Hotel.
Yosemite receives nearly 5 million visitors each year, although park officials say an estimated 75 percent visit between May and October.
Here’s Aramark’s complete COVID-19 closure statement:
“As a result of guidance provided by the National Park Service and public health officials, all lodging, tours and dining facilities in Yosemite National Park are temporarily closing as of tomorrow March 17, 2020. The temporary closure is prompted as a precaution due to coronavirus concerns. The closure is anticipated to last through March 31, 2020.
The health and safety of Yosemite National Park visitors and park employees is the park’s top priority. We are working closely with public health officials and the park will continue to review operations and reopen facilities when appropriate.
Aramark takes the safety and security of our guests and employees very seriously and we want you to enjoy your vacation and time at our destination. We are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance. Aramark continues to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local health agencies.
Examples Include:
- Placed additional hand sanitizers throughout our operations.
- Scheduling frequent cleaning and disinfection in high guest contact areas.
- Providing information about good hygiene practices and illness prevention to our guests and employees.
If there are any cancellations or changes to our operations, impacted guests will be notified immediately.
Additionally, Aramark has developed a comprehensive pandemic management plan. We are taking the steps necessary to handle the situation as it evolves. We appreciate your patience and are thankful for our loyal guests, employees and community.
We look forward to seeing you soon.”
