Before wagon roads, reaching Yosemite Valley required a grueling journey on foot or horseback. In the 1870s, growing interest in Yosemite's natural wonders spurred competition among three rival companies to build toll roads into the valley, aiming to profit from the increasing number of visitors. The first road completed was the Coulterville & Yosemite Turnpike, which opened in June 1874. Shortly after, the Chinese Camp & Yosemite Turnpike, later known as the
Big Oak Flat Road, began operations. In 1875, the Washburn brothers completed the Wawona Road—the third road to reach Yosemite and the most enduring—providing access from the south. That same year, the Washburn brothers purchased
Clark's Ranch, a stage stop run by
Galen Clark, and incorporated it into the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company. This acquisition transformed Wawona into a central hub for Yosemite tourism. The
Wawona Hotel, originally a modest stop for travelers, evolved under the Washburns into a grand Victorian
mountain resort. Renowned for its elegance and proximity to Yosemite's natural wonders, the Wawona Hotel attracted visitors from across the globe, offering them both adventure and luxury in the heart of the
Sierra Nevada. At its peak, the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company operated 11 daily stagecoach runs, employing up to 40 drivers and maintaining a fleet of 40 stagecoaches and 700 horses. Despite the challenging travel conditions—dusty roads and long hours—the company maintained a strong safety record, with no passenger fatalities reported. The route passed through Stitts, Green's, and
Fresno Flats, climbing from the
San Joaquin Valley, through the foothills, and into the
Sierra Nevada. Passengers stayed overnight at Wawona (then known as Big Tree Station) before continuing to Yosemite Valley the following day. The route's gentle grade eased the strain on stagecoaches, enabling four-horse teams to travel more efficiently compared to rival routes. This development brought rail passengers closer to the Sierra Nevada, making Raymond a key transfer point where they transitioned to Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company stagecoaches for the final journey to
Yosemite Valley, greatly reducing the reliance on lengthy stagecoach travel. The stagecoach route from Raymond to Wawona covered and took approximately 10 hours, including a lunch stop at
Ahwahnee. After an overnight stay at the
Wawona Hotel, travelers completed the final leg with a six-hour, ride to Yosemite Valley.
Wawona Tunnel Tree The Wawona Tunnel Tree, a Giant Sequoia carved to allow stagecoaches to pass through, became a major
tourist attraction for the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company. Images of the tree not only drew widespread attention but also boosted the Wawona route's popularity, giving it a distinct advantage in a crowded and competitive market. The expansion of the
Central Pacific Railroad in the late 19th century intensified competition among terminal towns like
Stockton,
Modesto,
Merced, and
Copperopolis. Each town promoted its own rail-and-stagecoach route into Yosemite, creating a confusing array of options for tourists. Northern and western routes struggled to stand out, but the Wawona Road, as the only southern gateway into Yosemite, had a clear business advantage. With the added marketing appeal of the Tunnel Tree, the Wawona route became the only one to ever turn a profit, outlasting its competitors as tourism evolved toward the turn of the century. == Notable people ==