Disgustingly dirty.
Aug 23, 2025 999luccar
Apart from the bed sheets and towels, my room in the Hemlock building was disgusting.
Every high-touch surface in my room, in the hall and on the building entry doors was filthy. The interior stairs were covered in dust and looked as if they had not been dusted, swept or vacuumed in days or perhaps weeks.
The tub in my room had not been…
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Apart from the bed sheets and towels, my room in the Hemlock building was disgusting.
Every high-touch surface in my room, in the hall and on the building entry doors was filthy. The interior stairs were covered in dust and looked as if they had not been dusted, swept or vacuumed in days or perhaps weeks.
The tub in my room had not been grouted in ages. Its seams were filled with blackish grime. The tub stopper was broken.
The bathroom heater was partially hanging from the ceiling.
The room’s one window was filthy.
The curtains were hanging loose and dust covered.
Spider webs on the walls.
Heaven knows what the surfaces that disguised dirt were like.
I could go on and on.
I wish I had brought nitrile gloves and disposable booties to use while in my room.
I tried to avoid the cafeteria, since I doubted its cleanliness was any better.
When I pointed the problems out to a housekeeping worker who said his name was Art, he jumped down my throat for not registering a complaint immediately upon arrival. As though the filth was my fault to begin with.
I relocated to a smaller room in the Cedar building due to reservation limitations that were in place when I first booked my stay.
The smaller room was somewhat better but still not satisfactory. Spilled goop dripped down the wall behind the trash can. The door was dirty. The ceiling fan (essential due to lack of ac) was loose and rattled non-stop.
Having been chewed out earlier by “Art” for not complaining about my Hemlock building room immediately, I mentioned the problems to front desk. I eventually was met by the front desk supervisor. She was gracious and sent a maid to touch up the cleaning.
Also worth noting, I had the darnedest time getting anyone at the front desk to give me accurate contact information for the Aramark employee in charge of of the lodge.
The first employee claimed the lodge was overseen by the front desk supervisor. When I said this was not so, he employee went to get me another name but never came back.
I persisted. I found another employee in the back of the reception area who said his name was James. James gave me the manager’s name (Robert
Lopez) but an inaccurate email address for him. I believe the error was intentional.
Finally a third employee who had been watching this “hide the ball” game from afar, heroically and wordlessly let me see a printed sheet with the manager’s correct information. PI intend to write to the manager and his superiors at Aramark directly with photos attached.
As for more positive reviews that have been posted for the Yosemite Lodge, readers should bear in mind that the operator of the lodge, Aramark, deserves ZERO credit for the location of the lodge. Its location was set down eons before Aramark arrived on the scene.
And I personally find the authenticity of positive reviews given for non-location related amenities hard to believe. I would discount them entirely.
Ask yourself: what are the chances that my experience was a one off? Two rooms in totally different buildings on totally different days not clean upon my arrival?
My understanding is that Aramark is a monopolist in that it holds the sole and exclude long term right to operate hotels on behalf of the National Park Service in Yosemite Valley. Aramark’s operation of the Yosemite Lodge is a perfect illustration of how and why monopolies are terrible for consumers.
Yosemite and its federally owned hotels attract tourists from around the world. In my view, Aramark’s operation of the Yosemite Lodge is a national embarrassment. We taxpayers and citizens — and national park visitors — deserve much much better.
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