Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Marks a Milestone Year: Seven Anniversaries Celebrate a Century of Tourism, Hospitality and Community
MARIPOSA, Calif. – [DATE], 2026 From a historic highway to a beloved Gold Rush festival, the fall of 2026 brings together an extraordinary convergence of anniversaries for Mariposa County, each one a chapter in the region’s century-long story of welcoming travelers to Yosemite National Park. The Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (YMCTB) is marking a milestone year of tourism, hospitality and community:
- the 100th anniversary of Highway 140, the “All-Year Highway” that first connected travelers to Yosemite by car;
- the 100th anniversary of the Yosemite Museum, the first structure built as a museum anywhere in the national park system;
- the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the iconic Ahwahnee Hotel;
- the 50th anniversary of Yosemite Resorts;
- the 40th anniversary of CoyoteFest in Coulterville;
- the 30th anniversary of the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort;
- and dual anniversaries for River Rock Inn, marking 135 years since its original 1891 construction and 85 years since its 1941 expansion.
“These anniversaries remind us that Yosemite Mariposa County has always been more than a way station on the road to the park,” said Jonathan Farrington, executive director at YMCTB. “Whether it’s the highway that first brought travelers here or the small businesses and community traditions that have kept them coming back for decades, this region has built a year-round identity of its own and 2026 is a chance to celebrate that.”
Highway 140 Turns 100: The Road That Opened Yosemite
In 1926, Highway 140 opened as the “All-Year Highway,” offering a lower-elevation route along the Merced River that made year-round travel to Yosemite practical for the first time. The highway accelerated Yosemite’s shift from railroad-based travel to the automobile age nearly doubling park visitation between 1926 and 1927 alone. Today, the route remains a defining part of the Yosemite journey, carrying travelers through Cathey’s Valley, historic downtown Mariposa, and the Wild & Scenic Merced River Canyon on the way into Yosemite Valley. A community centennial celebration is being planned for September 22, 2026, at the Mariposa Museum & History Center.
The Yosemite Museum: A Century of Heritage
2026 also marks 100 years since the Yosemite Museum, the first structure built as a museum anywhere in the national park system, opened to the public. The museum grew out of a 1920s effort to properly conserve a growing collection of Native basketry and other historical objects, funded through the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial and built by the Yosemite Museum Association (today known as Yosemite Conservancy), the National Park Service’s first nonprofit cooperating partner. A century later, the museum and its affiliated staff safeguard more than five million objects documenting Yosemite’s natural and cultural history. With support from Yosemite Conservancy donors, the museum is marking its centennial in 2026 with a special exhibit, “A Century of Heritage,” on view now with details available at yosemite.org.
The Ahwahnee: A Century Since Its Cornerstone
2026 also marks 100 years since the cornerstone was laid for the Ahwahnee Hotel, one of the National Park System’s most celebrated lodges. Commissioned by the National Park Service to draw year-round visitation to Yosemite, the Ahwahnee has hosted presidents, royalty and artists in the century since, and remains a Yosemite Valley icon of National Park Service rustic architecture.
Yosemite Resorts: 50 Years of Family Hospitality
Yosemite Resorts is celebrating 50 years of family-owned hospitality minutes from Yosemite’s Arch Rock entrance. Since 1977, the family has welcomed travelers through Yosemite View Lodge, Yosemite Cedar Lodge, Indian Flat Campground and a collection of vacation rentals along the Merced River corridor.
The Yosemite Bug: 30 Years of Rustic Adventure
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort marks its 30th anniversary in 2026, having built a reputation as a gathering place for hikers, climbers and travelers seeking an accessible, community-oriented basecamp near Yosemite. [ADD ONE SENTENCE ON FOUNDING STORY]
River Rock’s Double Milestone
River Rock Inn celebrates two anniversaries this year: 135 years since its original construction in 1891, and 85 years since a 1941 expansion added additional rooms, together spanning more than a century of continuous hospitality in Mariposa County.
CoyoteFest Marks 40 Years in Coulterville
In the historic Gold Rush town of Coulterville, CoyoteFest celebrates its 40th anniversary on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The all-volunteer, family-friendly festival features a classic parade down Historic Main Street, an antique and classic Car Show, live music, a full food court, a kids’ zone, and the festival’s signature Coyote Howl Contest. CoyoteFest remains the largest annual fundraiser for the Northern Mariposa County History Center, helping preserve the region’s Gold Rush-era history for future generations.
A Region Built on a Century of Welcome
Together, these milestones tell a larger story: Mariposa County has spent a century developing the infrastructure, lodging, heritage sites and community traditions that make the region a year-round, sustainable gateway to Yosemite National Park – and a destination in its own right, beyond the park boundary. YMCTB invites media and community partners to explore these anniversaries throughout 2026 as part of its ongoing focus on sustainable travel, shoulder-season visitation, and the people and places of Mariposa County.
# # #
For interviews, historical images, or additional information on any of these anniversaries, please contact:
Jennifer Sweeney
916-215-1769
About Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau
Located about 200 miles east of San Francisco and 300 miles north of Los Angeles, the region is a must-see for any California itinerary. Alive with possibility, it’s a world-class destination for all seasons that inspires curiosity and refreshes the soul. Yosemite Mariposa County is the ideal destination for visitors looking for outdoor adventure, family fun or a place to unplug and get away from it all. For more information, visit www.yosemite.com or follow us at @YosemiteNation on Instagram and Facebook.