Over the past 12 years, the National Park Service has been trying to put forward the Merced River Draft Plan and has recently come a few steps closer to succeeding. This draft plan is made to protect and enhance the Merced River's free-flowing condition and to fully succeed the National Park Service has been directed to consider all of the commercial services that are within the Yosemite Valley and eliminate those that are not essential to the Yosemite experience. There is one consequence that has very recently been brought to the public's attention because of this direction, the closing of the Curry Village Ice Rink.
The ice rink has been a winter tradition for over 80 years, created in 1928 by the Yosemite Winter Club when they flooded an unused parking lot. It is thought to be one of the best ice rinks in the world with some of the best scenery available, sitting under Glacier Point with amazing views of Half Dome. Sunset Magazine has ranked it one of the top ten rinks in the West while Travel & Leisure Magazine ranked it one of the World's Coolest Skating Rinks in 2012. The ice rink is only open from mid November until early March and receives thousands of visitors each winter. They are open daily and offer 2 ½ hour sessions with two skating sessions during the weekdays and four sessions during the weekends and holidays. The rink boasts all of the modern amenities including a large supply of rental skates and a warming hut where a blazing fire pit sits and skaters can enjoy hot drinks and s'mores. The rink currently charges $9.75 per adult and $9 for children under 12 with skate rentals being $4.
At the moment, there is no written mention of the ice rink being closed but was instead brought up in the last public meeting. Whether or not the rink is harmful to the Merced River will be up for the National Park Service to decide but they are listening to the public. If you feel that the ice rink has too much history and believe that the National Park Service can have a solution that does not involve the closing of this wonderful winter tradition for many families, then visit the NPS website and comment on the issue. The Curry Village Ice Rink is a large part of the winter experience in Yosemite and would be greatly missed by many if shut down.