Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher announced today that the names of several buildings and facilities within the park will be renamed to eliminate potential trademark infringement issues with the current concessioner of Yosemite, DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (DNCY), a subsidiary of the Delaware North Companies. The name changes will impact several iconic buildings and landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
After a prospectus document that announced the contract availability was released in July 2014 and the offers were reviewed, the National Park Service selected Yosemite Hospitality LLC, a subsidiary of Aramark, to be the new primary concessioner in Yosemite National Park. The concessioner provides lodging, retail, recreational services, and food to over four million annual visitors to Yosemite. Because the current concessioner, DNCY, claimed ownership and the right to payment for tradenames, trademarks, and other intellectual property that it argues is worth over $50 million, the National Park Service included the option to change the names of these sites as part of the prospectus.
“While it is unfortunate that we must take this action, changing the names of these facilities will help us provide seamless service to the American public during the transition to the new concessioner. Yosemite National Park belongs to the American people,” stated Neubacher. “This action will not affect the historic status of the facilities, as they are still important cultural icons to the National Park Service and the public. Our stewardship of these properties is unwavering.”
Without prior National Park Service concurrence, DNCY or its predecessor had previously trademarked or service-marked several nationally significant properties in the park including The Ahwahnee Hotel, Badger Pass, Curry Village, Wawona Hotel, and Yosemite Lodge. DNCY also trademarked the phrase “Yosemite National Park.” The National Park Service is currently in litigation in part over these trademarks, service-marks, and other intellectual property.
The new names were chosen in order to minimize the impact on visitors and include:
Yosemite Lodge at the Falls to become: Yosemite Valley Lodge
The Ahwahnee to become: The Majestic Yosemite Hotel
Curry Village to become: Half Dome Village
Wawona Hotel to become: Big Trees Lodge
Badger Pass Ski Area to become: Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area
Yes, this irks me a little. Ownership of the names should have been something the National Park Service managed due to the historic nature of the properties. Letting DNC manage the names is irresponsible in my book. Sure would suck if they had to change the park name from Yosemite National Park now wouldn’t it?
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Comments
2 responses to “DNC Wins! Yosemite Changing Names of Historic, Publicly Owned Buildings”
This just shows the extreme incompetence of the overall National Park Service. As a long time Yosemite user and former employee, I have never really been a fan of any of the concessionaires. From the Yosemite Park and Curry Co, ran by Ed Hardy, to DNC, and now to Aramark, non of them have ever had the best interest of the park in mind. I am well aware that these are private businesses that are there to make money first and foremost. But, this is not Disneyland. It is a national park. Owned by the people of the United States. The prices the NPS allows to be charged are outrageous. Over $ 130 a night for a tent cabin built in the 1950’s???
For the management of the NPS to allow this to happen in unparalleled. I have seen the park service administration staff continue to climb, while visitor services continue to decline. With the exception of law enforcement, and the visitor center, most park visitors has virtually no contact with rangers. Park campfire programs have been cut, Ranger led walks and talks cut. Over 1,000 campsites have been eliminated. Since 1976, 6 ENTIRE campgrounds have been removed. The NPS even tried to to eliminate Camp 4, after years of trying to call it Sunnyside, to make more rooms at the Lodge, or whatever they are going to call it now. The management of the NPS is incompetent at best, or ……
This is pretty outrageous! Were not the names Ahwahnee, Yosemite Lodge, etc. in use way before DNC came along?