| Mineral King Valley | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Length | 7 miles (11 km) |
| Width | 1 mile (2 km) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Sequoia National Park, Sierra Nevada, Tulare County, California, North of Porterville, |
| Coordinates | 36°16′13″N 118°21′15″W / 36.2703°N 118.3541°W |
Mineral King Road Cultural Landscape | |
 | |
   | |
| Location | Mineral King Rd, Sequoia National Park, Mineral King, California |
| Coordinates | 36°27′11″N 118°35′56″W / 36.45306°N 118.59889°W |
| Area | 408 acres (165.1 ha) |
| Built | 1915 |
| Built by | U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Architectural style | NPS rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001063[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 24, 2003 |
Mineral King is a subalpine glacial valley located in the southern part of Sequoia National Park, in the U.S. state of California.[2] The valley lies at the headwaters of the East Fork of the Kaweah River, which rises at the eastern part of the valley and flows northwest. Accessed by a long and narrow winding road, the valley is mostly popular with backpackers and hikers.
Historically, the valley was inhabited by the Yokuts tribe during the summer months. They would come up to escape the high heat of the Central Valley and to hunt and forage. They would also meet with bands coming over from the eastern side of the Sierra to trade. In the 1870s, silver was discovered on the slopes of a mountain overlooking Mineral King. Mineral King Road was built in 1873 and was gradually improved throughout the early 20th century.
On September 19, 1966, Walt Disney Productions announced plans to build a ski resort called "Disney's Mineral King Ski Resort" in the valley. The project was canceled after lengthy opposition by preservationists, including the Sierra Club.[3][4][5] In 1978, the valley became part of Sequoia National Park.[6]
The name Mineral King also refers to the historic mining camps and towns in and near the valley, including Silver City and Cabin Cove. The settlements as a whole are referred to as the Mineral King Road Cultural Landscape, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Mineral King (Populated Place)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 19 January 1981. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ Masters, Nathan (February 20, 2018). "Disney's Lost Plans to Build a Ski Resort in Sequoia National Park". www.kcet.org. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ "New Heights: Walt Disney's Mineral King". The Walt Disney Family Museum. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ "Mineral King: Walt's Last Lost Project - Program Recap". The Walt Disney Family Museum. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ Dowd, Katie (October 21, 2020). "Disney's failed attempt to build a massive ski resort in the California wilderness". SFGATE. Retrieved November 14, 2020.