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.
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[@business]

Chemical spills, a ceiling collapse, indoor bears. Employees and park superfans blame the hospitality company Aramark. Read more - The Mess at Yosemite: www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-yosemite-national-park-aramark-mess/

[@skyak4493]

The soundtrack for this video needs to be “Lunchladyland”.

[@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.

[@santabarbaralife]

Thank you.

[@ClearGlassStudios281]

Corruption has eroded basically all institutions.

[@djp1234]

Another term is "enshitification." It has affected every part of our lives.

[@StarGen-l7u]

I agree, but Aramark is particularly very bad

[@dustman96]

The natural outcome of unfettered capitalism.

[@IreneYam1]

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

[@romelgrigorian307]

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.

[@paty6248]

So Aramark is responsible for the reservations fiasco, too? That explains a lot.

[@alexconrad2904]

@@paty6248 Reservations were an NPS decision, as that has to do with Park operations. In my opinion, reservations are necessary, along with better options for non-car travel to and from the park. Reservations are likely here to stay for car visitors.

[@CijjJodaij]

National Parks should not be private enterprises.

[@Ducotevision]

How would it be managed then without private enterprise?

[@takemyhandtakemymind8039]

@@Ducotevisionlike any national park in europe

[@WeAreChecking]

Genuinely obscene to believe that one of shining aspects of the American system was allowed to slip this far. Roosevelt would be disgusted.

[@Ducotevision]

@@takemyhandtakemymind8039 which is how?

[@budm2528]

@@Ducotevision oh gee...um...duh...by a government agency? Preferably one that is not bloated and overly bureaucratic. There was a time...oh yes...when this worked. Look at the Army...got over-bloated and mismanaged, then got "lobbied" to let private companies run some of their programs...how's that working out?

[@stewcoil2481]

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.

[@RayEccleston]

Another example of private industries not being able to regulate themselves. This should surprise absolutely nobody, their primary purpose is maximizing profits, not the wellbeing of customers and stakeholders.

[@ronaldrey8474]

I want to know what government officials getting paid off to look the other way

[@HaimRich94]

No, it's an example of how monopolies don't need be better. For example the government doesn't need to "regulate" itself, just like companies without competitors

[@MrOwen-xs5hd]

@@HaimRich94 What? ummmm, what? This is a private company, with a monopoly on the services in your/our countries public parks, and that private company is taking advantage of its monopolistic position to profit off of a place that you and I have paid for the existence of.

[@ronaldrey8474]

@@HaimRich94 Monopoly ? You mean like Facebook or iPhone

[@HaimRich94]

​@@MrOwen-xs5hd Exactly my point, just like a government doesn't need to regulate itself (because is a monopoly), companies without competitors neither (because is a monopoly). What part isn't clear?

[@bobchannell3553]

I'm familiar with Aramark. They ran the cafeteria where I once worked. I'm not surprised they are doing a less than stellar job here. I hate to hear this about our national parks though.

[@zed6095]

The food they serve in prisons is actually DESIGNED to give you diabetes and other maladies. If you have seen the food ARAMARK serves in places the general public go, you can only imagine what it looks and tastes like in prisons and jails

[@SnoopyM4]

public funds into private hands

[@SpaceTravel1776]

Yeah, the government would surely run the business side of these parks better. Wait......oh.

[@chromebomb]

@@SpaceTravel1776 yeah they would lol

[@SpaceTravel1776]

@@chromebomb Smart take informed by overwhelming historical evidence that government runs businesses better than private sector. Your intellect is truly superior.

[@m93sek]

Visited Yosemite in April. Those tents indeed didn't look great when driving by. Luckily we came in a camper and also cocked ourselves. The nature itself is amazing!

[@victormercado5341]

Aramark it's beholden to it's stock holders they are a for profit organization. Corporations (Aramark) does not care about Yosemite national park they only care about profit profit

[@lancesay]

Here’s the problem-it’s not about the public or appearances. The issue lies in letting private companies like these three concessionaires-Xanterra, Delaware North, and Aramark-take over. They rotate their upper management, chasing money without improving anything significant. Their contracts are set to expire in about a decade, but fixing these buildings will take more than 15 years, which means they might lose the contract before seeing any results. There’s no real incentive for them to invest in proper maintenance or long-term improvements. I visited Yosemite in the summer of 2024, and the way construction was cordoning off areas was frustrating. I’m honestly glad I didn’t stay inside the park. Plus, it’s overcrowded-especially after 4 PM when you no longer need a reservation. The number of people floods in, and the experience just isn’t the same, especially when paying the price for staying inside the park. Congress and the president can’t really do anything when the passion of these companies is focused on chasing paychecks rather than caring for these beautiful places.

[@DistrustHumanz]

How about just taking all the luxury crud out of the national parks and getting back to the basics, like the roads and maybe vault toilets? Everything else should be provided by private mom-n-pops surrounding the park. The purpose of the park was to experience the land in its natural state.

[@warrenleezy]

Love this! From Airbnb to Mom and Pop bnb! 👏👏👏

[@eddiemalvin]

That's sounds absolutely wonderful; however, it's nearly impossible to experience the land in it's "natural state" when the parks are overrun with hoards of unruly visitors.

[@boxalox]

When I worked at a resort in Yosemite, DNC was the operator and we often joked about the negligence as "Does Not Care". Terrible to see the wealthy people come in with their tesla's and REI prada clothing while the back end of the resort was a ecological disaster.

[@pyrho1]

A business primary objective is to create profit for its stakeholders. If you put a company like that in charge of a national park, they will cut corners to save money

[@paty6248]

I stayed one night at Wawona in June 2023. It was very clear at the time that the building needed major renovation work. Floors that were slanted, bathrooms that were dingy, and a dining room that felt like the dining room at the Bates Motel. I hope the renovations turn Wawona into a first-rate facility. It’s far from that now.

[@KingGing21]

Having just finished a holiday in Yosemite it was incredible sad to see the standards of some facilities being as low as they are. America, you have some fantastic natural wonders, please make sure they're well managed for future generations to experiance and enjoy

[@Dullydude]

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

[@littleoakey32]

22 years ago when I lived in Mariposa we would always go to Yosemite you would always see Park employees working on structures walkways Bridges bathrooms... Nowadays you don't see much maintenance going on the place is turning into a dump very sad😢............ The whole place is full of mold.... Lots of people that camp with us.... Had to leave because of sickness

[@JR-wl9pt]

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

[@gregoryroyse6202]

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!

[@gerry3631]

This is the second docie I've seen about Aramark in the last 3 days that has outlined how this private company has been a stain on Service Delivery across its portfolio And with an industry 'big 3' no wonder how things keep going left with no checks & balances

[@BrennanRobby]

Aramark let go of employees that worked there as long as 30 years. Despicable company.

[@ronaldrey8474]

Sounds like Halliburton for military overseas. Corruption cause Senators probably paid off.

[@shahsagar12]

It is so costly to visit and lodge in national park . I am pretty sure they can hire better contractors to manage it .

[@d.c.1059]

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

[@kingjsolomon]

Job after job posted by Aramark online, gave me that clue a couple years ago…

[@kingjsolomon]

Thank you for this reporting!

[@weirdshibainu]

Aramark couldn't run a popsicle stand correctly. They're destroying Yosemite and their track record is well known for abysmal service levels. Whoever ok'd the franchise should be fired, but they'll get a raise and additional retirement benefits.

[@STELLVIA.]

Add the ‘Missing 411’ cases to the list too

[@0mn0mable]

Shameful!

[@yoyoyohihihidude]

There’s too many people

[@KhanJoltrane]

Thanks for this content. I didn’t even know Aramark was the vendor even after being to multiple national parks, including Yosemite and crater lake

[@emmievon6090]

I hope this gets more views

[@ropro9817]

Yay, enshittification has hit the national parks! 😒

[@TS-lw5nv]

The park service deserves more of the blame. Yes, Aramark is responsible for many issues, the land managers gave them the contract. The Park Service is all in favor of chiding the public when they misbehave but they’re silent when they fail to live-up to their mandate and they’re equally silent when their vendors adversely impact the outdoors.

[@MrSupro]

This all goes back to when Delaware Northern Company had their contracts pulled out from underneath them. They were running the park just fine and now we have this mess.

[@skatelivefunable]

Thank you for reporting on this! It is clear they are trying to maximize profits over service and it feels like neither NPS or patrons can make a difference. This last summer many of the stores and food options ran out of stock multiple times a week. Also many of the lodging options operated by Aramark were less than 50% full. It’s nice to have less people but that’s not really the point of those resources. If you have to fight with 1000s of other people to get one site during the summer you would expect all sites to be filled. Btw the NPS ran sites in the park seem to be just fine, almost exceptional by comparison to spots like housekeeping camp

[@Runningalien]

Ohhh wow... shocker! NOT! What do you expect when you ask a private company to whose only priority is profit to run a national park? What I fail to understand is why aren't local authorities able to run the parks, pay it's staff a fair wage and instead of making profits, have that money go into reserves that make sure the parks are preserved long term?

[@wendyvelez2969]

Aramark is a monopoly.

[@LV-90-sm4iv]

Growing up my family took a yearly trip to Yosemite and in the early 2000s, the park was still nice and not overcrowded. There were a ton of tour buses but everyone respected the space. I remember staying in those tents and I am surprised they look exactly the same, which is wild! So sad to see what the park has become, with the overcrowding and trash visitors leave behind I am ok if the National Parks Association wants to close if for some time and implement the reservation system again.

[@kristiec8673]

Project 2025 mentions allowing companies to build new homes on federal lands. Does this mean building private homes inside National parks? 🧐

[@aw8079]

Money ruins everything. I want the Park Service to do these concessions themselves, even if it costs more. The only reason Aramark is in Yosemite to make money. (The same motivation as contract killers and thieves). The Park Service is there for us, for the park & for posterity.

[@aliensoup2420]

Delete or rephrase your first sentence. The pursuit of money ruins everything...maybe. In the next sentence you say you want the Park Service to take over even if it costs more MONEY. Make up your mind.

[@chrisklugh]

Stuff gets old, people are complacent, and we live in a world where cheap and fast is whats in demand. Quality is a desire, but its not what we want to pay for anymore with our time. If you think everything is bad now, wait another decade.

[@0ricle]

Unfortunately nothing is cheap in a National Park.

[@martinyuhas929]

What I’m reading into this is the park service doesn’t know how to manage their own parks and is subcontracting the actual management of the parks to a for profit company who is naturally incentivized to cut costs.

[@tinabraaten413]

Almost no mention of the employee situation.

[@TS-lw5nv]

The park service loves removing public access from public lands, but they can’t even manage themselves or their vendors. This is a failure of the NPS. Remember, the Park service gave Aramark the contract.

[@chromebomb]

Congress gives NPS no money and tells them to outsource to a private company, the private company cuts corners to increase profit, the public suffers

[@gdebree1]

Aramark needs to go!!! And pay huge fines. Another reason to not let private industry in!!!

[@bauderk]

Well this explains my experience there in February.

[@startuphub4097]

In all the places I've seen Aramark, I've never seen a well run concession. It's without question always ghetto, just so poor, sloppy, subpar food, staff, facility maintenance, everything. Anyone who peeks around a bit knows this from experience.

[@user-se9uk2py5k]

I will sleep in a camper and run quickly to the mountains, where the real beauty lies

[@justlucky13]

The parks have been in such a mess I quit going!!!

[@JohnnyEscopeta]

Ah! You mean the human infrastructure built on top of the park is a mess. The park itself is beautiful and it would be even better without all these "theme park" like attractions. Let them rot.

[@TC-gi1iy]

Quality of life is completely down! We have been ruining this earth for too long!

[@marka8947]

I went there to climb Half Dome and to hike back to Merced Lake. I needed nothing else.

[@michaeleguillen]

How about just not have a park in the middle of the Muir. Hiking trails only, just like the rest of it.

[@local3433]

this is not how Canadian National Parks operate

[@TheMassiveMelons]

But how is Wall Street supposed to get their returns if we have to maintain the national parks to proper standards 😢

[@danb.709]

That's still not as bad as Xanterra employees in Yellowstone... there were several deaths this summer.

[@RichardAmesMusic]

Seems odd to complain about bed bugs and food service and mice at a national park - I mean, great outdoors…?

[@avocadogaming3942]

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

[@Justvisiting498]

Simple solution...Shut it all down. Return the parks to a PARK! and not amusement style theme parks. Camping only, bring your own food and maintain the sanitary facilities. No more HOTELS in our National Parks.

[@kanuke]

While accommodations in national parks should not be privatized, complaining about mice and bugs while living in a tent is wild. Remember you’re their home.

[@codyeasonBGR]

Who dose not have the balls to fire AirMark

[@wendyvelez2969]

Despicable

[@RyanArnaudin]

Private contractors aside, we need to start reinvesting at home before sending billions upon billions over seas

[@Aceman4Ever]

Looks like it needs some funding and management. 😮

[@lensofsaeed]

Do not close that until my visit it is my dream place 😂

[@jjwissler]

I hate to see this. Yosemite has always been so awesome.

[@velodjk2975]

I think the statement at the end was created by requesting AI create a politically correct, get out of jail statement using the words, "challenging", "safety", and the phrase "top priority."

[@snowballjennjenn2825]

Everything is just collapsing! Greed and funding the wrong programs!

[@blubaughmr]

Curry Company ran that stuff for almost a century and kept things in decent condition. Then, under Reagan, the concession got turned over to a company that wasn't going to do things the old way, and here we are.

[@ARPorganics]

As soon as he said national congress and the administration, I knew it was a dead end story to begin with.

[@BobDobbs681]

Please vote November 5.

[@warrenleezy]

Run the federal parks like you run FEMA 😅😂😅

[@peterbedford2610]

Yes...Please everyone, stop going here.

[@UncleT0ny]

I had a pizza in Yosemite village a few years ago, it was the worst pizza ive ever had..

[@captiannemo1587]

What do people expect? You have to dump money in to maintain it. And if it means closing the park for a month a year… that’s what you should do. Instead it’s a 24/7 run it down and cry about it falling apart.

[@ClearGlassStudios281]

I went there with my own food and didnt use any of the Bureaucratic resources except paying their fee and restrooms. I had a great time.

[@codyeasonBGR]

Air mark is only interested in profit I would fire them and only higher local contractors to manage the park buildings and food in conjunction with the government

[@karolisk]

😢

[@kingjsolomon]

Maybe give federal recognition to the actual tribe that lived in the valley and let them run it…oh wait…

[@swapw]

Looking at the damages of these structures, they didn't just happen within 7-8 years where private companies took over, this look like it is mismanagement for decades from the national park services where they want the private sector to eat up the cost of repairs.

[@quentintaylor1016]

Like Thames Water and privatization of Railways in the UK...Smells of ye old neoliberal spells of sorcery!

[@thelastdefenderofcamelot5623]

That's how you pronounce Yosemite? I thought it was like Semite as in anti-Semite.

[@ZzedZed]

The Queen of where ? try again.

[@joebust779]

It's just what one would expect from a third-world country of course. If it quacks like a duck and waddles like a duck, then it must be a duck.

[@tgoshe]

Unmanaged wildlife lol 😆 What do you expect in the middle of a forest? 🤣

[@Exothermic15]

Instead We are too busy funding israel and ukraine

[@djp1234]

Never noticed. But I don't go to National Parks for the facilities. I go for the great outdoors. Don't care about all the tourist attractions.

[@Jason.W.]

Can’t the FTC get in here with some antitrust review?

[@fysl305]

Its been raided by potheads

[@Saudi_Earendel_Atr_]

was that the hotel from the shining

[@Ducotevision]

You’re thinking of Estes Park, CO

[@DistrustHumanz]

​@Ducotevision e The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park was the inspiration when King stayed there, but the hotel in the movie was actually the Timberline Lodge in Oregon.

[@James-hm9on]

Over population and it’s getting worse 40 million people in California and more people everyday

[@ronaldrey8474]

Obviously you haven't checked population decline last 20yrs ...

[@0ricle]

@@ronaldrey8474 CA population has declined 500k people since 2020. Over the last 20 years its increased by roughly 3.5m.

[@ronaldrey8474]

@@0ricle thx for replying. To my point .... Lately people can't leave California fast enough. And if you play cards you'd understand they had a fixed deck but evil still failed. Since 2020 to present and future unless 180° turn. If you live there I pray because businesses are leaving also

[@imthefknWHARGOUL]

😑

[@blaquiere141]

You guys are drama queens

[@jayz.life.1183]

It’s what happens when LARGE CORPORATIONS pay GREEDY Politicians to get these CONTRACTS!

[@hkisnotchina]

This is very American. 🤣

[@codyeasonBGR]

Air mark is only interested in profit I would fire them and only higher local contractors to manage the park buildings and food in conjunction with the government