Dawn at Mineral King Valley: The Sierra Club, the Disney Company, and the Rise of Environmental Law

Selmi's book is like a novel, yet it is all so true and thoroughly researched. He compiles facts and supporting details yet writes in a style that makes the story flow. I am the same age as Selmi, so I connect clearly to the names of the players in the national administrations during those years. I was a student in a midwestern college during the late 60s, and early 70s, so was not that aware of Mineral King, the general area, or for that matter, the state of California. When I did live in the Bay area from 72-78, I learned more about the Sierras and the beauty of the area. Having the generational background to connect me to the names of characters with the knowledge I gained during my time in California in the 70s helped me to connect readily to Selmi's detailed, legalese prose. Eloquent. On top of all this, I am no stranger to Disney. I grew up with the Mickey Mouse Club. To read about their corporate background was revealing and realistic while also disturbing when contrasted with my experiences with Disneyland and Disneyworld. Selmi pulls all this together in a book that is historical in nature and foretells in detailing the ways the legal decisions of that time have helped to preserve other areas in the country from being considered for development, similar to the Disney project. After reading this book, I hope Selmi makes the time to write more about legal decisions that have left a lasting impact.

The careful and meticulous descriptions of the underlying issues in jurisdiction between the National Parks and the Forest Service, as well as the understanding of what the pubic stands to gain from the protection of the land, rather than the exploitation of it for gain, makes this a fascinating, even gripping book. The nascent environmental movement was only a half-step ahead of the potential monetizing of the pristine area for a huge ski park. Truly a wonderful and insightful story, evolving over the last half of the twentieth century, it involves the Supreme Court, state and local politicians as well as presidents and Cabinet officials.

I was a young San Francisco lawyer in the late 1960’s and was lucky to play a small role in starting the Sierra Club’s lawsuit over Mineral King that is the focus of this book. Now, more than fifty years later, I have had the great pleasure of reading law professor Daniel Selmi’s fascinating, deeply researched, story of how the ensuing struggle played out and why that story is important to this day. Far from being a dry, academic tome, this book is written in a clear, fast-paced style that makes it into an unlikely page-turner. Selmi takes you behind the scenes with all the key players (a fascinating cast of characters) as they formulate their strategies and make their fateful moves. He explains, in broad but vivid strokes, the historic changes and forces that helped to shape the outcome at key turning points. It's a truly good read. Highly recommended!

This book takes you inside the controversy that led to the Supreme Court decision that all environmental groups, fifty years later, still rely upon to challenge proposed projects that will interfere with the public's use and enjoyment of the natural resources of the country. The cast of characters, although now forgotten by most, are an eclectic, fascinating bunch and the author does a fine job of sussing out their roles and contributions in this first of a kind legal battle.

I could not put this book down! As a Disney fan and someone who has visited Mineral King 6 times (and I take my college students there every year), this was a fascinating recount of the entire process from beginning to end on how this project transpired over nearly a decade. A must read for every Disney fan.