Coming in at number 10 in our top 11 of 2011 for Mono Lake is the beloved Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore storefront. It was finally crumbling enough to be threatening structural damage, so, thanks to generous member contributions, in April 2011 we embarked on a mission to renovate the façade’s crumbling stucco. The project included removing the old stucco by blasting it with crushed walnut shells, stuccoing during an extremely variable weather system, installing new night-sky-friendly lighting, and a paint job by our scientific illustrator friend Logan Parsons. We are hoping to complete phase II of the remodel in 2012, which will include handicap access, more comfortable hang-out space for visitors, and even some more space for merchandise outside as well as a water conservation demonstration system and interpretive elements highlighting Mono Lake.

The Mono Lake Committee storefront before the remodel. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

We bid farewell to the beloved mural. Photo by Geoff McQuilkin.

Inside the Information Center & Bookstore everything had to be protected because the deterioration of the stucco was so severe. Photo by Elin Ljung.

Walnut blasting in action. Photo by Geoff McQuilkin.

Lee Vining Elementary School's kindergartners visited the construction project. Photo by Elin Ljung.

The renovated storefront complete with lettering, the logo, lights, and banners advertising the new Mono Lake Story film. Phase II coming soon. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

For more on the remodel….

• Changes out front at the Mono Lake Committee
• Committee storefront gets a logo and lettering
• New Mono Lake Committee storefront complete
• And if you have ideas for the next phase of the remodel … let us know!

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 at 4:00 pm and is filed under News. You can view No Responses on this post or leave your own response if you log in.