Why Yosemite National Park Is a Mess

Chemical spills, deteriorating facilities and rodent infestations have called into question the safety of Yosemite National Park. Employees blame hospitality company Aramark, which says it’s trying to clean things up.

--------

Bloomberg Originals offers bold takes for curious minds on today’s biggest topics. Hosted by experts covering stories you haven’t seen and viewpoints you haven’t heard, you’ll discover cinematic, data-led shows that investigate the intersection of business and culture. Exploring every angle of climate change, technology, finance, sports and beyond, Bloomberg Originals is business as you’ve never seen it.

Subscribe for business news, but not as you've known it: exclusive interviews, fascinating profiles, data-driven analysis, and the latest in tech innovation from around the world.

Visit our partner channel Bloomberg Quicktake for global news and insight in an instant.

[gottago]

Aramark does not deserve to have ANY park contract

[PrismFilmsUS]

Corruption has eroded basically all institutions.

[brendandeery]

Over the past decade, am seeing a general decline in Yosemite Valley's stewardship. Once vigilant rangers enforced rules and educated visitors, but now their presence was noticeably diminished when I visited last weekend. To me this lax enforcement has led to increased noise, speeding, and disrespect for the park. Let's protect our parks!

[EmergentStardust]

A public land being given to a private company to monopolize didn't work out? Allow a small private industry to exist with competition or don't allow any company to make profit.

[IreneYam]

I’m so grateful for Bloomberg for brining this to light.

[d.c.]

Aramark is synonymous with county jail food and deserves no more respect than that.

[gregoryroyse]

As soon as Aramark took over you could FEEL the shift in the park. Has only gotten worse year after year! They are the worse company ever!

[albertoclonado]

Whose idea it was to grant a monopoly to a greedy corporation? America is messed up in so many ways 😢

[RobertJl]

My wife and I just visited Yosemite. We were shocked to see how dirty the facilities in the valley are. The Valley floor area of human occupation looked run down and neglected. I urge American citizens to write our representatives in congress and demand improvements to our national parks.

[sacramentofoodforest]

Letting a private company run Yosemite IS FN INSANE

[jeremyzwick]

Worked at Yosemite as a park ranger and made friends who worked at other parks. Individuals working for Aramark are often dedicated and committed to preserving the park. It’s the corporate structure and the higher ups who neglect the park and safety. And it’s not just Aramark, it’s the corporate contractors all across the Park Service.

[CijjJodaij]

National Parks should not be private enterprises.

[JS-phee]

What Aramark has done to Yosemite is criminal. They should be sued and fired. They are slum lords. I go to Yosemite several times a year. Before Aramark, I enjoyed visiting Curry Village, Yosemite Village and the Awhanee. Now I generally stay away from these areas and stick to the trails only.

[Dullydude]

Maybe stop relying on private corporations to provide public services....

[romelgrigorian]

I have been going to Yosemite every summer for the last 45 years. When Aramark took over we saw the changes and they were not positive. The reservation process was a mess. Curry village cabins with the floors saging and about to collapse. Wet closets full of mold that you could not even open due to the smell. The empty pool at Curry Village that was very popular is yet to open. Employee housing looked like a homeless encampment with trash everywhere. The Wifi at Curry has been out for a few years now? There have been some improvements with lodging and dining but too little too late. Delaware North did a much better job.

[stewcoil]

Aramark! The school kid's lunch poisoner? I delt with them at a Cafe in a large building. Would not recommend. Went out for lunch rather than eat that position.

[avocadogaming]

The Federal government should run the parks, not some for-profit corporation.

[JH-wlpt]

The incompetence, greed and corruption that revolves around these concessioners needs to be kept in the spotlight. Thank you

[kateya]

That's why we camp at Yosemite and not stay at the hotels. And cook our own food.

[RyanAnthony-rf]

Aramark is a for profit company. Commonly used in the prison and jail systems. Not surprising they can't run a national park property.