El Portal Market Will Be Located Near Former Site

Yosemite, Ca — Fire destroyed the El Portal Market in Yosemite National Park this past Monday, and park officials have decided that the market will be relocated to an office building that stands approximately 500 ft. from the now burned down structure.

“On a historical note, the building was at one time the restaurant and bar for the Hotel Del Portal,” says Park Ranger Scott Gediman. “It is a historic building that was originally a restaurant, got converted to office buildings, and will now become the store.”

Gediman says workers still need to make some interior modifications to the building, and the new market will likely be open within nine months.

The El Portal Market was built around 1934 and originally served park visitors traveling to Yosemite by rail. 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.

Fire officials believe the blaze started because of an electrical problem.

Written by BJ Hansen