William and Margaret’s far reaching vision motivated them to campaign for the construction of the Big Oak Flat & Yosemite Toll Road that eventually had headquarters at the Priest Hotel. As owners of the toll road, Mrs. Priest made weekly trips in horse and buggy to collect the road fees. For protection, she held a Derringer pistol in each hand. She slept with them under her pillow at night.

Slowly the horse drawn carriage was replaced by the automobile. Horses could go up and down the grade but the Model "T" could not. Mrs. Priest was an astute business woman and campaigned for a new road until her death in 1906. With the financial and physical help of the communities South-of-the River, the New Grade was finished in 1913. This was done without aid from the government. It was named "Priest Grade" in her honor.

In 1900 William Priest died and Margaret carried on the work of the hotel until she died. Then her niece, Jessie and her husband Daniel Corcoran, took over the management. In 1926 all twenty-two buildings burned to the ground. Only the cash register and the few items exhibited here survived the fire. When Jessie died in 1933, Dan continued to operate the station until his death in 1936. His family owned and operated Priest Station and Ranch until 1969 when Priest Station was sold. The Priest Ranch continues under family ownership and operation using the historic "AK" brand.