Possibly moving to Yosemite National Park in California (Fresno, Merced: fit in, to rent) - (CA) - City-Data Forum

amanda_jo_hill · 09-04-2008, 12:11 PM

Have anyone ever lived and worked in the Park? Especially as a manager? Just trying to decide if it would be a good fit for us. What is it like living in the Park? What's available for your every day use? Etc. Thank you!

humboldtrat · 09-04-2008, 12:38 PM

I think many of the park employees live outside the park in El Portal.

amanda_jo_hill · 09-04-2008, 12:57 PM

We would actually be living IN the Park.

DMenscha · 09-04-2008, 02:08 PM

I've had a couple of friends that lived and worked inside the park. I'm assuming you would be working for one of the concessionaires so you need to ask them very specifically what they are offering you in terms of housing and other amenities. Make sure you get it in writing too.

treedonkey · 09-04-2008, 02:28 PM

I did. In 1988. Right out of high school, though, and not as a manager. Here's the deal, based on what I know from 20 years ago, and from a few visits back since:

Married couples who work year-round at the park usually get the opportunity to live up at the 'Annex' in Yosemite Village. If you're a manager, you should be bale to get a room with its own bathroom, if available, but it's still just a room. There are a few upper-managers that live in a row of houses along the meadow with the most stunning view of half-dome in the world. But unless you're being an executive, don't even think about getting into one of those. The housing is very cheap there, ($10/month in 1988 for a single guy with roommate in a tent cabin) and it's deducted right out of your check. You can also choose to be on or off meals. 'On Meals' means you can eat in the cafeteria (and a couple other places) and a monthly sum will be deducted from your check. otherwise you can buy groceries at the village store and cook in a common kitchen area in your housing unit. I do know that many employees, especially those that work there year round for several years choose to rent apts. or mobilehomes in El Portal or other places, but pay is low and housing is a lot cheaper in the company's facilities. Also, I've heard that the YP&CC (or whatever it's called now ) has already begun moving a lot of their own dorm facilities out to El Portal as well in order to 'free' the valley from added residential impact. Living in Yosemite int he summer is a whole different beast han in the winter. In the summer the park is packed all the time and flocks of college-age kids come up there and work various jobs for the summer. Most of them live in tent cabins near curry village. It's a strange way of life, somewhere between prison and a college campus. But at 18 y.o. it sure was a lot of fun and what other way could I have been completely independent from my parents at such a young age. Not to mention all the epic hiking and climbing. I only stayed about a year and then moved back to SoCal and went to college. I still fondly remember my days in Yosemite though and I often wonder where I'd be if I stayed. maybe in one of those big phat houses on the meadow, but probably not. I hope it goes well for you. Enjoy the ride. And if you run in to Ted Farmer, tell him James, from the summer of '88, said hi.

oh, and if you are going to work for the park service, and not the concessionaire, forget everything I said. It's totally different for them.

treedonkey · 09-04-2008, 02:37 PM

Oh, yeah, one other thing. Everyone who lives there year-round, at least those over age 20, has a pretty thick and interesting background. It's kind of a refuge for outcasts. But totally fun in a Steinbeck-ish way, if you're into that sort of thing. I met some real characters up there.

amanda_jo_hill · 09-05-2008, 09:58 AM

If we accept and or are offered this position, they would put us in an actual house (2-3 bedrooms). So I am curious what the houses are actually like and what it's like living there day to day. I'm assuming other people that work there probably socialize with eachother as it's a small community.

treedonkey · 09-05-2008, 11:07 AM

You still have not stated whether you're going to work with NPS, YPC&C or other. They have different housing situations. Since I lived in a tent, I could not tell you much more about the actual houses than you could tell by taking a trip out there and looking. They're old, but the ones on the meadow have the most incredible view you could ever imagine. There are others, crammed up in the Village area which have no view. It all depends on where they put you. I THINK that these days most of the housing is not in the valley at all, but at the El Portal entrance on HWY 140, but technically still 'in the park', so you should find that out first.

Yes. Workers socialize off-hours and try to have a good time, but the tourist crowd is omnipresent, so you never really feel 'off' work unless you're out of the valley altogether, in the back country or just on a road trip. We used to take 'vacations' to Merced and Fresno or even the bay Area just to go watch movies, eat at a real (non-company-owned) restaurant and stuff.

Know this. Of everyone I ever knew who lived and worked up there it is a rare breed who manages to stay there happily year in and year out. Often times, people that are a little recluse by nature fit in the best up there. Most 'regular' people go there for an adventure and then tire of it and leave after a year or two. It may be different for upper-mgrs in (relatively) swank houses though, I don't know. I was busing tables and making minimum wage at the time. I am certain that it is very hard to have a 'normal' life there. By normal I mean, suburban, picket fence, nuclear family, day care, public schools, kind of lives. But if normalcy does not suit you all that well, you might just love it there.

Try using google earth and going to:
Lat: 37°44'43.45"N
Lon: 119°35'54.42"W

Feel free to email me if you want more direct info.

BRinSM · 09-05-2008, 11:38 AM

I was just in Yosemite this past weekend and the concessionaire is now Delaware North if that matters at all. I did notice that a majority of the workers for DNC are college ages kids, including many, many internationals. I found it quite interesting talking to so many people from all over the world. We also spoke with one middle aged lady who said it cost her $19 a month for housing, although she wasn't too specific about her accomodations. Regardless, it sounds like it would be cheap to live there, but your salary must also be really low. If you do end up taking the position, make sure to bring your bicycles, that is how most of the workers seemed to get around in the valley.

treedonkey · 09-05-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRinSM

I was just in Yosemite this past weekend and the concessionaire is now Delaware North if that matters at all. I did notice that a majority of the workers for DNC are college ages kids, including many, many internationals. I found it quite interesting talking to so many people from all over the world. We also spoke with one middle aged lady who said it cost her $19 a month for housing, although she wasn't too specific about her accomodations. Regardless, it sounds like it would be cheap to live there, but your salary must also be really low. If you do end up taking the position, make sure to bring your bicycles, that is how most of the workers seemed to get around in the valley.

That's right, it's Delaware North now. Thanks. Of course, almost all the college-age kids would have left after last week. You know, for college. Like I said, it's a lot different in Summer than the rest of the year. If the lady you met is paying $19 for housing, then she's living in a tent cabin near curry village. And probably making minimum wage. Great suggestion about bringing bikes - it will make your life a lot easier to have a bike.