I've been going to Sequoia Park Giant Forest area for years, starting in the 1950's. I know that when I get near the Giant Forest area the type of trees and surroundings get better. Its probably due to the altitude and getting into the Giant Sequoia groves. When you come to the Giant Forest Village area it branches toward a road that takes you to a famous site called Morro Rock. Its one of my favorite places to stop and take a enjoyable hike. The Morro Rock is a large rock that people climb using a safe stairway that has about 350 stairs. Its always interesting to meet the other people that is on the path. Many of the people are not from America and talk in foreign languages. Some of the people are struggling with the steep drops and have fear of heights when doing the climbing. Most people do ok and usually have to stop for rest at times since its so steep. When you are at the top the view is fantastic with the distance mountains and scenery.

In the past when you finished visiting the Morro Rock and wanted to eat you could go to the Village restaurant that was connected to the gift store. It was a homey woodsy style and was more like a buffeteria. You just took a tray and chose what ever they had in front of you. The price never seemed too high and the food was just right. I remember people working for the parks department eating there too and used their meal tickets to pay for it.I also remember a large fireplace in the room where you sat. I sure wish they would have left it when they decided to tear up the village. It seemed like a historical monument since I think it was built around 1925 or so. Its amazing how a bulldozer can tear down something in a few days.

The village had a place for adults to go and have a drink and socialize. It was in the large building that now is part of the museum. It had a large fireplace and was another cozy nice place. I'm sure that a lot of people had some good times there after a long day hiking for camping. Next to this room was the grocery store and was perfect for getting supplies and food. It wasn't any large store like back home but was sufficient for the area. It was another bad thing to loose since people need supplies and food. Across the street and highway was the lodge. I never stayed there but it would probably have been a great place to stay. Hopefully others will write about their stay and experience. Nearby the village and behind the lodge area was the cabin areas. The old access road is still there and near the parking lot for the museum. It has a sign that says overfill parking area. If you walk down that old road you will see large areas that once had many cabins. The went in quite a ways following the dirt road to where the semi rustic cabins were. They had provisions for cooking and were somewhat primitive. The one we stayed is in the photo section. I remember how dark the walls were at night since they weren't painted and were dark in color.

The camping areas that closed around 1971 was in a different area and near the round meadow access area. They didn't have bear proof food containers and sometime had bears getting into ice chests and garbage cans. I remember the camps were on the primitive side but were fine for our use. There were rangers (I only remember men rangers back then and had smokey bear hats on) that kept their eye on our saftey and they were nice people. They would also put on night shows for us at the amphitheater. There is part of a destroyed one in the photo section. It will be nice when we get better pictures of pre-destroyed ones. I hope you can see that thousands of people enjoyed the village areas. The old pioneers that established the support structures and areas for human use are to be praised and thanked. I wish they were on the decision making position about the destructions of a village. I would have liked to have listened to the hearing and arguments that would have gone on in support of keeping versus tear down. The old pioneers would have stood their ground for us decent people.

-D.D.