Our Story
Originally an adobe trading post built in 1849, The Groveland is the oldest operating hotel in the greater Yosemite area. We’ve had many incarnations over more than 160 years– Gambling House, Saloon, Hotel, Ranger Station, business offices, and even a Greyhound Bus Stop. Known as “the best house on the hill” during the Gold Rush, The Groveland is the only Sierra Nevada Mountain building constructed in the Monterey Adobe architectural style that was popular during the late 1840s and 1850s.
We’re proud of our history. But we also believe the spirit of the American West is about always moving forward. Here, classic heritage meets modern comfort and curated design for an experience rich in the Western past and fully in the California present.
The Garrote Hotel is built by George Reid. The building acts as a store, a bar and restaurant, a gambling house, and a brothel.
1849
Golden Rock Water Company decides to start hydraulic mining in the area. The hotel becomes a place where miners frequently stay and dine.
1855
Big Oak Flat Road is completed and begins to bring the first tourists to Yosemite during the summer.
1874
The town of Garrote officially changes its name to Groveland, and the hotel becomes the Groveland Hotel.
1875
The second gold rush brings prosperity to the hotel as prospectors flood into the area. The hotel adds upstairs sleeping quarters.
1890s
Wealthy cattle rancher Tim Carlon buys the Groveland Hotel and builds the annex to the east of the adobe building. During this time, the hotel hosts the many engineers building the Hetch Hetchy dam.
1914
During the Great Depression, tourist traffic declines and the hotel struggled to remain afloat.
1930s
The hotel is used as the Groveland District Ranger Station headquarters.
1970-1980s
Peggy and Grover Mosley purchase the building and begin an extensive remodel of the hotel. Peggy ran the hotel until her passing in 2016.
1990
Jen and Doug Edwards (owners of the Charlotte Hotel at the time) purchased the property, and invested over $500,000 in modernizing the building and amenities.
2017
Tenaya Real Estate Ventures buys the hotel from the Edwards. With a redesigned interior and a revamped menu, The Groveland is mixing old school craft with a modern sensibility. Combining rich Western history and contemporary comfort, discover a truly unique hotel experience at the gateway to Yosemite.
2021
Note 1.1 Classic charm.
Old West. New Perspective. Here, the past meets the present for a modern sense of the Western spirit.
Note 1.2 One of the only surviving buildings in classic Monterey adobe style at the heart of a historic Gold Rush town, we’ve hosted prospectors, pioneers, gamblers, and ramblers. Now it’s your turn.
