Foresta, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Foresta
Unincorporated community
Yosemite Valley as seen from Foresta
Foresta Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Mariposa County
Elevation	4,314 ft (1,315 m)

Foresta is a small community in California. It's located inside the famous Yosemite National Park. You can find it in Mariposa County, about 2.25 miles (3.6 km) northeast of El Portal. Foresta sits high up, at about 4,314 feet (1,315 meters) above sea level. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government.

History of Foresta

Foresta has an interesting past. It was once known by other names, like McCauley and Opim.

How Foresta Got Its Name

The name "Foresta" comes from a company called the Foresta Land Company. This company was started in 1913 by a person named A.B. Davis. He tried to build a resort there, but it didn't work out.

Early Development

By the 1930s, the land in Foresta was divided up. It was sold to different people who wanted to invest. However, not much was built there for a while. Things really started to change in 1951. That's when electricity finally came to Foresta.

Building Homes and a Campground

After electricity arrived, people began building homes. Most of the private houses were built between 1951 and the early 1960s. A campground was also built in the area soon after.

Foresta Today

Today, Foresta is home to many people who work in Yosemite National Park. This includes employees of the National Park Service and other companies that help visitors. There are also some vacation rentals available. The community is located on the slopes around a place called Big Meadow. It's about three miles off the Big Oak Flat Road.

Wildfire Impact

In 1990, a wildfire sadly burned many of the homes in Foresta. The community has since recovered.

The Opim Post Office

Before it was called Foresta, there was a post office named Opim. This post office operated in the area for a short time, from 1882 to 1884.