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[Yosemite]

What is / was the area called Chipquapin?

Discussion about Yosemite National Park history, including Native Americans, Euro-American pioneers and settlement, and establishment as a national park.

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What is / was the area called Chipquapin?

Postby wengie » Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:41 pm

What was/is the area known as Chinquapin?

I have passed this area many many times. I always wonder why this Junction is given a name other than say, "Glacier Point Junction" or some other name.

I have search this site only to find little info about the area. All I have learn, so far is;

1) There was ounce 13 building before the fire of 1936. (Was it a town? Stage Coach Stop? Any Hotels?)

2) There was once a gas station there. (When?)

3) There is currently a Garage, a Ranger Station and a Bathroom. (Why?)

4) There was once a Lunch Room. (For who? and When?)

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Chipquapin, Yosemite history

Postby dan » Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:21 pm

Chinquapin was built as a junction of the Old Glacier Point Road, which was built in 1882 or 1883. Previously it was a bridle trail to Glacier Point (the current Glacier Point Road, which starts immediately north of the old road was built in 1940). Here is "Chinquapin Station" on this 1896 U.S. Calvary map (lower left corner):
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/yosem ... p_1911.png

It was named Chinquapin after Chinquapin Creek, which is immediately northwest of Chinquapin. Chinquapin Creek is today called Indian Creek. Chinquapin Creek (and therefore Chinquapin) was named for the Sierra Chinquapin (Chrysolepis sempervirens) brush that grows in the area (with spiny seeds).

Chinquapin was the second ski area in Yosemite. This second ski area at Chinquapin was opened after the Wawona Tunnel was built (allowing Winter access). Before that, people skied on the glacial moraine in Yosemite Valley that is just east of the horse stables by the Pines Campgrounds. Later, the ski area moved from Chinquapin to Badger Pass on the Old Glacier Point Road. Today the ski area is in Simpson Meadow (below Badger Pass). More detail is in Gene Rose's book, Magic Yosemite Winters: A Century of Winter Sports (2000).

Chinquipin used to have a Gas Station up to the 1990s. Before that, the Gas Station was a small ski lodge (what some refer to as a "lunch room") that opened in 1933. The Gas Station was cleaned up as a toxic site by the park concessionaire (Delaware North) as a condition of their winning the Park concession in 1993 from the previous concessionaire (MCA Corporation).
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