In 1870, Galen Clark partnered with Edwin Moore to expand the lodge, adding new sleeping and dining facilities to accommodate the surge in visitors.

The Wawona Hotel served as a central hub, providing lodging for travelers heading to Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias.

[14] By 1876, they added the Clark Cottage and the Long White building, starting its transformation from a modest way station to a premier resort destination.

[17] The property included springs, wells, and a large irrigation ditch that supplied water for cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, and crops of hay in Wawona Meadow.

In 1884, Jean Bruce Washburn renamed the town Wawona, believing it meant "Big Tree" in the language of the indigenous tribes of the area.

[3] Washburn also brought a first for California: a mountain golf course at Wawona Meadow, designed by pro golfer Walter Fovargue, solidifying the hotel’s reputation as a premier destination.

[3] By the 1915 season, the Washburn's Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company had replaced horse-drawn carriages with automobiles, and by 1924, a garage and filling station had been added to cater to the growing number of motorists.

[17][3]: 29 In August 1932, the federal government purchased 2,665 acres from the Washburn family, acquiring the historic Wawona Hotel complex and surrounding land for $150,000.

The 1932 acquisition finally brought the Wawona Hotel and its surrounding area under public ownership, preserving this scenic and historic site within the park’s boundaries.

Wraparound porches and verandas integrate the design with its natural setting, while elements of Greek Revival, Stick-Style, and Eastlake architecture add sophistication.

[25] Despite the loss of the Sequoia Hotel to a 1977 fire, the Wawona has preserved its pre-World War I exterior, maintaining its status as a serene retreat and a rare showcase of 19th-century resort architecture.

[27] Situated on a forested hillside north of Wawona Road, the hotel’s seven main buildings are arranged in a structured, orderly layout that aligns with the four cardinal directions, creating distinct outdoor spaces.

Outdoor recreation choices include quiet nature walks or scenic drives, and when snow arrives, nearby cross-country and downhill skiing and snowshoe routes.

Oriented northeast to southwest, the course is framed by gently sloping hills and clusters of evergreens, preserving historic sightlines between the hotel and the meadow.

[28] The hotel has welcomed numerous notable guests, including Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes, as well as film and television stars like Robert Redford and Brad Pitt.