Another tree, the Wawona Tree, had a tunnel cut through it in the nineteenth century that was wide enough for horse-drawn carriages and early automobiles to drive through. Weakened by the large opening at its base, the tree fell down in a storm in 1969.

The iconic Wawona "Tunnel" Tree in Yosemite National Park fell in the winter of 1968–1969, primarily because the massive 6-foot-wide by 9-foot-tall tunnel carved through its base in 1881 had severely compromised its structural integrity. While the tunnel was a major tourist draw for 88 years, it effectively cut through the "heartwood" and "sapwood" of the giant sequoia, which are essential for supporting the tree's immense weight and transporting nutrients. Over time, the open tunnel allowed for increased internal rot and fungal decay to take hold within the core of the tree. Additionally, the constant foot and vehicle traffic through the tunnel compacted the soil around the shallow roots, further weakening the tree's "anchor" in the earth. By the time a severe snowstorm hit in late 1968, the combination of a weakened base, a top-heavy canopy weighed down by heavy, wet snow, and saturated, muddy soil made the tree unable to withstand the lateral forces of the wind. This collapse serves as a significant historical lesson in the National Park Service's shift toward "preservation" over "entertainment-based" forestry.