Tourism Leader, Willey, Remembered For Local Impact

Published Aug 24, 2026 12:28 pm

Steve Willey at the National Hotel - Visit Tuolumne County archive image

Jamestown, CA — Stephen Willey, the longtime owner of the National Hotel in Jamestown, and a pillar in the community, passed away last week.

Willey sold the National Hotel in 2022, and the real estate listing at the time noted that he had owned and operated it for 48 years. The hotel drew international guests and the restaurant attracted regular clientele both locally and from across the region.

He made a positive impact on many in the county and the news of his passing traveled quickly last week.

Central Sierra Broadcasting reached out to former Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Nanci Sikes, who notes, “All of us in the tourism and hospitality industry are saddened by his passing.”

Sikes noted that Willey was an active member of the Tuolumne County Lodging Association and a founding member of the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau.

Sikes says he was an “outstanding board member” and ran a first-class operation at the National Hotel. He also cared deeply about the Jamestown community and the greater Tuolumne County area.

A unique aspect he is remembered for is offering guests the opportunity to pay with gold, which was an authentic throwback to an earlier time. He placed an old-fashioned gold scale in the registration area of the hotel and displayed the current market rate.

Willey was also a strong supporter of Railtown 1897 both before and after it became a state park (1982).

Current Visit Tuolumne County CEO Lisa Mayo adds that Willey was a “larger than life” type of person and had a great knack for hospitality. She is both appreciative of everything he did for local tourism and the support he gave her personally.

Willey was also a big backer of the former Wild West Film Fest and a host from 1988-1999.

We also interviewed Willey in 2007, when he was one of the committee members who helped bring the historic Jamestown Jail to Rocca Park. It was celebrated by local businesses and historians alike.

Willey passed away last week at the age of 84.

Memorial service information has not been released.