In the late 1800’s David and Jenny Curry dreamed of visiting Yosemite National Park. Even then this was a popular park, especially with the wealthy who could afford to take time off of work for some recreation and rejuvenation. The Curry’s both being schoolteachers could not afford the lodging prices. Many of the available accommodations at the time were built as luxury hotels that catered to more expensive tastes.
The Curry’s did end up visiting Yosemite and decided to create and affordable and charming lodging option. This led to the establishment of Camp Curry, today called Curry Village. Camp Curry made a stay at Yosemite accessible to everyone; families, people with moderate income and even senior couples were able to visit the park with an affordable lodging option by offering affordable room and board within Yosemite.
Aside from clean, affordable accommodations entertainment played a key role in Curry's success, with nightly performances and the famous Firefall. By 1922, Camp Curry also featured a dance pavilion, pool hall, soda fountain, nightly movies and a gas station and service garage. A few years later, a swimming pool and ice skating rink were added to the onsite facilities. The dance hall was renovated into what is now the Stoneman House lodge with 18 motel units.
Curry Village offers many amenities to make your stay as interesting as possible (if touring the park isn’t entertainment enough!) These few perks help keep kids busy and assist in getting geared up for a hiking trip or unwinding afterwards! Fun things include: a large swimming pool (lifeguards on duty), cafeteria for breakfast and dinner, general store/gift shop, camping equipment store (Mountain Shop), pizza & beer place with shaded open patio seating, small tavern, ice cream stand (that doubles as a coffee & donut shop in the morning), post office, showers, raft rentals, bicycle rentals, tour embarkation, ice skating rink (winter only), several meadows for after-dinner or early-morning strolling, the shuttle bus stops here going in both directions about every 5 minutes, several hiking trails originate from here or very near and there is an amphitheater that has nightly programs.
Camp Curry celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1999 and is still offers park visitors comfortable, inexpensive lodging in the shadow of the spectacular Glacier Point and Half Dome.
Call or go online today to make your Camp Curry/ Curry Village reservations. Toll free number 1-866-875-8456 or log on www.nationalparkreservations.com/yosemite_curry_village.htm.