Fish Camp, California

Fish Camp (formerly Happy Camp and Berry's Fish Camp) in Mariposa County, California, United States. at an elevation of 5062 feet (1543 m). About 1 mile north of the community is the Summerdale campground, the original location of Fish Camp. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of , of which 0.002 square miles (0 km2), or 0.50%, are water. Fish Camp, located around a mile above sea level, is renowned for its seasonal snowfall, frequently indicating the region's snow line. Nearby, the Goat Meadow Snowplay Area in the Sierra National Forest, just north of Fish Camp, attracts visitors for sledding and cross country skiing.

Fish Camp is home to several protected species designated by their Federal Special Status (FSS). These include avian species such as the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis), the Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa), and the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). The area also supports nocturnal mammals like the Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus), Townsend’s Big Eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), and the Western Red Bat (Lasiurus blossevillii). Additionally, terrestrial mammals such as the Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes necator), American Marten (Martes americana), and the Pacific Fisher (Martes pennanti pacifica) are present.

In the latter half of the 19th century, Fish Camp, located near Yosemite Valley, developed significantly due to various economic activities. The town's growth was driven by the logging industry and later, tourists bound for Yosemite.

Fish Camp's history begins with the opening of the Wawona stagecoach road to Yosemite Valley in 1875. It became a vital traveler's stop, and a target for stage robbers.

The first permanent settlements in Fish Camp were in support of the logging industry. The Madera Sugar Pine Logging Company heavily exploited the surrounding forests to meet the growing construction demands for lumber in late 19th century California. The logging activities not only transformed the local landscape but also created pastures that were later used by sheepherders. During this period, Fish Camp was also known as “Happy Camp,” a nickname derived from a red light district located to the south of the current town center, catering to loggers and mill workers from the Sugar Pine mill. Bootleggers ran booze out of Fish Camp during the prohibition years to meet demand from the loggers and mill workers.

Fish Camp has served as a mountain stopover for travelers heading to Yosemite for more than a century. In 1883, Albert Phillip, a prominent local entrepreneur, established a two story hotel featuring 12 bedrooms, along with a kitchen, dining room, and parlor. In addition to his hotel, Phillip ran a freight service connecting Raymond and Yosemite Valley and transported ore from the nearby Star Mine at Mt. Raymond to North Fork using teams of ten animals. By 1925, Charles Beery had taken over the property in Fish Camp, developing it into a resort. However, Beery's Paradise Lodge was plagued by several fires, the last of which occurred in 1942. Following this, the property was sold to the H. J. Baker Real Estate Company in 1943. The new owners constructed The Silver Tip Lodge, which remained in operation for 35 years until it was destroyed by arson in 1981. The lodge was famous for its community events, including an annual turkey shoot and barbecues featuring locally sourced bear. In 1990, the Marriott Corporation opened the Tenaya Lodge, a 242 room luxury resort, enhancing the region's hospitality offerings. Currently, it is operated by Delaware North, a company specializing in park services.

The 2010 United States Census reported that Fish Camp had a population of 59. The population density was The racial makeup of Fish Camp was 57 (96.6%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 1 (1.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 0 (0.0%) from other races, and 1 (1.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3 persons (5.1%). The Census reported that 59 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized. There were 31 households, of which 4 (12.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 12 (38.7%) were opposite sex married couples living together, 1 (3.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1 (3.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1 (3.2%) unmarried opposite sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same sex married couples or partnerships. 13 households (41.9%) were made up of individuals, and 6 (19.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.90. There were 14 families (45.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.57. 9 people (15.3%) were under the age of 18, 4 people (6.8%) aged 18 to 24, 6 people (10.2%) aged 25 to 44, 26 people (44.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 14 people (23.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.4 males. There were 153 housing units at an average density of , of which 20 (64.5%) were owner occupied, and 11 (35.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 0%. 35 people (59.3% of the population) lived in owner occupied housing units and 24 people (40.7%) lived in rental housing units.

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a historic narrow gauge railroad near Fish Camp. Operating since 1967, it features steam locomotives and operates as a tourist attraction along the former route of the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company.