Mother Lode Lodge

Mariposa had everything we needed close by, and the Mother Lode Lodge sits right in the center of town. We enjoyed the beautiful Sierra Nevada setting and would gladly return. Our apartment was clean and nicely furnished, with two bedrooms, a kitchen and dining area, and a bathroom with a tub that worked as a shower. The beds were comfortable, with mattresses that felt neither too hard nor too soft. Fresh towels and good coffee were easy to get: we left the dirty towels outside with a note, and a basket of clean ones and coffee soon appeared. We stayed for a week in October 2024 to drive to Yosemite National Park's south entrance, about an hour away. The woman at the front desk was very friendly, as were her children, and we quickly sorted out a solution when our credit card didn't work. The pool had already closed for the season.

The clean bed, nice TV, and updated furniture were good. The shower was tiny, though, and there was no shelf space in the bathroom. The room was very warm when we got in with the air off, and the fridge was unplugged, so we couldn't use it. The pool area needs a lot of work and would be difficult to get into the water for someone who isn't athletic. The oddest part was finding a note on the office door saying our room was unlocked and the keys were inside, with nobody at the office that day. The cleaning lady we saw the next day was nice and helpful.

We arrived late, after the office had closed, and the friendly staff talked us to our rooms over the phone. The lodge was cute and simple, and cleaner than other hotels I've stayed at. I especially liked opening the windows at night and getting the fragrant oak smell from the nearby forest into the room. It's right outside Yosemite, too.

Check-in hours are limited, but the self check-in instructions were clear enough. The staff were friendly, and the place is quite basic, with a microwave, coffee maker, and fridge. It's well located for Yosemite Park.