Page 1 of 1

El Portal Market Burns in Yosemite National Park

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:21 pm
by ERIC
El Portal Market Burns in Yosemite National Park

NPS Newswire
Date: April 21, 2008


The El Portal Market, one of El Portal’s oldest buildings burned to the ground today in a blaze which was reported by El Portal residents at approximately 5 am. Firefighters from the National Park Service, DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc., and Mariposa County responded to the fire. The market has been closed for renovations since late March.

The El Portal Market, built around 1934, originally served park visitors travelling to Yosemite by railroad. The market was operated between 1966 and March, 2008 under the general partnership of Vaughn, Vaughn, and Carter. The current operator was scheduled to open the market in late spring, 2008, when renovations were complete. The market has served El Portal residents and park visitors since the mid-1930’s as both a general merchandise store and a community meeting place.

Mike Tollefson, Yosemite Park Superintendent, said this morning: "It is impossible to imagine the loss that this is for the community of El Portal and the park as a whole."

Yosemite park managers are meeting immediately this morning to consider options for replacing the building.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Re: El Portal Market Burns in Yosemite National Park

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:33 pm
by frediver
Funny how so many Historic old buildings burn in the Sierra's.

Re: El Portal Market Burns in Yosemite National Park

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:12 pm
by asabat
Yes, old wood buildings are very flammable.

But, isn't El Portal actually outside the park boundary?

Re: El Portal Market Burns in Yosemite National Park

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:42 pm
by Hikin Mike
asabat wrote:Yes, old wood buildings are very flammable.

But, isn't El Portal actually outside the park boundary?
Yes, by a few miles I think.