Delaware North this week completed the 10-month ecofriendly redesign and reconstruction of the Grant Grove Restaurant. The $6.3 million rebuilt restaurant opened today, June 30, bringing elevated food and beverage services to the park. The new restaurant also features improved views of the picturesque setting, surrounded by majestic giant sequoia trees and overlooking Bradley Meadow.

Replacing the original restaurant, built in the 1970s with a seating capacity of only 74, the new 8,000-square-foot restaurant will accommodate about 225 diners at once in indoor and outdoor seating areas. It features a revamped indoor area with seating for 104, plus a new outdoor deck overlooking Bradley Meadow that will have seating for 46 once it opens in early July and a large courtyard for grab-n-go dining with picnic tables seating 75.

The new structure, including the striking indoor space with high ceilings and large exposed beams, was built to meet LEED Gold standards, using sustainable materials and construction techniques. The room features natural wood tables and chairs set with color schemes that complement the rock work. Thoughtful design details include salt and pepper shakers that look like the new stonework, along with decorative pieces and historic photographs that tell the story of Kings Canyon National Park.

Other new features include a fireplace, large windows and an open concept floor plan, which will provide a better cooking facility for the chefs as well as a more enjoyable and convenient dining area for guests.
“We are very pleased to offer visitors a quality dining experience in a beautiful national park setting,” said Woody Smeck, superintendent of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. “Delaware North has worked hard to deliver a rustic architectural design that harmonizes with the mountain surroundings and is planned to achieve a LEED Gold rating for environmental protection.”

Since Delaware North took over operations as concessioner at Kings Canyon National Park in 2013, Grant Grove Restaurant and its environmental standards have evolved as part of the company’s proprietary environmental stewardship platform, GreenPath®, and its commitment to being a good partner to the National Park Service. Delaware North is one of the largest privately held hospitality and food service companies in the world and operates at a number of national parks.

“We are thrilled to present an updated, more convenient dining option for visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks,” said Lance Wellwood, Delaware North’s regional general manager for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. “Our team worked closely with the National Park Service to address potential impacts during construction. Great care and consideration was given to the surrounding natural environment to enhance the overall visitor experience and, of course, preserve the beautiful setting.”

The restaurant’s new menu, designed by Executive Chef Brandon Bollenbacher, is centered on locally sourced, sustainable and organic ingredients. Highlights include California-raised grass fed beef, San Joaquin Valley-raised organic poultry and eggs, and Monterey Bay Aquarium-approved seafood. Local farms and vendors, including Mountain Produce (Fresno, Calif.) and Sierra Seafood (Oakhurst, Calif.), will supply additional meat, poultry, seafood, produce, dairy and grains.

To-go items such as pizza, sandwiches, coffee and ice cream are also available at a walk-up window for those in a rush or wanting to maximize their outdoor time.

Completion of the new Grant Grove Restaurant follows Delaware North’s renovation since 2014 of the Grant Grove Cabins, John Muir Lodge and Cedar Grove Lodge.

Hours of Operation: 7 am – 10 am (Breakfast)  11:30 am – 3:30 pm (Lunch)  4:30 pm – 10 pm (Dinner)

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The “Your Pass Now” program gives the public the opportunity to purchase their Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks park-specific annual passes or entrance passes using their own smart device such as a tablet / cellphone or computer by visiting www.yourpassnow.com/parkpass. This year’s online program comes from NIC, LLC and has been piloted at 5 other park units.

Last year, the parks piloted another digital pass program through Viply. By testing and experiencing both pilot programs, the parks will be able to determine which the best digital pass solution is for visitors.

Brigid Jennings, Acting Revenue and Fee Program Manager said, “We are super excited to be announcing this new pilot program during National Park Week. This will be another tool to help visitors in their planning before arriving at the parks.”

Once purchased, electronic passes may be printed or can reside on a mobile device for use at the park on the date of purchase or at a specified future date. Park staff will validate them upon presentation at the park. Specific instructions for the electronic passes will be provided when they are purchased. Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-replaceable if lost or stolen.

Entrance fees go back to the national parks themselves. 80% of revenue collected stays within the parks and directly supports the maintenance of trails, visitor centers, and the operation of the within-park shuttle buses; the other 20% goes to support the entire National Park System.

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While at Sequoia, Zinke met with staff and leadership to discuss a variety of issues including infrastructure, active management, and increasing access to public lands while also participating in a wildfire mitigation exercise. Sequoia was the Secretary’s second California national park stop after meeting with employees at Yosemite National Park on Thursday.

“Meeting with the dedicated staff at two of our nation’s most iconic parks is a great way to get a head-start on National Park Week,” Zinke said. “Sequoia and Yosemite are the epitome of what our national parks mean to the American people—post-card worthy landscapes that bolster local economies while preserving our national heritage. While we celebrate these amazing places, we will continue to tackle challenges like deferred maintenance and access to ensure they are preserved for generations to come.”

A quote from President Teddy Roosevelt, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People,” is etched into the stone of the historic arch at another renowned park—Yellowstone. It is a philosophy that Secretary Zinke fully embraces and perfectly sums up what National Park Week is all about.

“There are endless opportunities to enjoy amazing recreation, beautiful scenery, and inspiring stories,” Zinke said. “Last year 331 million people visited our national parks. I urge everyone to go and be a part of the hundreds of events and programs taking place this week throughout the country.”

Following is a sample itinerary of the great things in store for National Park Week:

Saturday, April 15 – Celebrate National Junior Ranger Day. Take part in kid-friendly, hands-on activities and earn a free badge at dozens of parks.

Sunday, April 16 – Ranger-led astronomy talk. Kids ages 5-12 and their families can earn a special Junior Ranger Night Explorer Patch.

Tuesday, April 18 – Celebrate International World Heritage Day at one of the 20 national parks that are World Heritage Sites.

Wednesday, April 19 – Help welcome a dozen new US citizens as they are sworn in with the Painted Desert of Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona) as the backdrop. The National Park Service, in collaboration with the United States Citizen and Immigration Services, hosts naturalization ceremonies in national parks throughout the year.

Saturday, April 22 – Celebrate Earth Day and John Muir’s birthday at John Muir National Historic Site (California). Meet “John Muir” and the giant sequoia he planted 130+ years ago. Tour his 1882 Victorian home and orchards. Enjoy live music and activities for all ages.

Sunday, April 23 – On Park Rx Day, a day that showcases the physical, mental, and psychological health benefits of time in nature, join a ranger walk.

Visit www.nps.gov for more information and to plan your park visit. Use #FindYourPark, #EncuentraTuParque and #NPS101 on social media during National Park Week.

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The approved plan includes repairing the damaged cave access trail and trail features, replacing the existing visitor information kiosk and gift shop, and improving the information and displays at the trailhead area and along the cave access trail. The NPS will also be rehabilitating the picnic area near the trailhead and installing new comfort stations in the area. The plan does not propose to change the trail inside the cave, or the types and number of cave tours offered to visitors.

Dan Blackwell, acting superintendent for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks shared, “We are excited to be moving forward on this wonderful project. Crystal Cave is one of the highlights of a visit to these parks. The proposed improvements will go a long way in protecting this environment.”

“The Crystal Cave visitor experience offers an introduction to the underground ecosystems in the parks. There are hundreds of known caves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Crystal Cave is the only one open for public tours. It provides a learning experience for visitors while, congruently, is protected by the park staff who works carefully to manage this beautiful cave. This project is going to be a great improvement to the area,” said Mark Tilchen, executive director for the Sequoia Parks Conservancy.

Crystal Cave has been one of the most popular visitor destinations in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks since it opened for public tours in 1940. The cave is visited by an average of 51,000 people each summer season. No major work has occurred to the area’s facilities in more than 30 years. This project will accomplish needed repairs to provide an improved visitor experience, while protecting the area’s important cultural and natural resources.

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