Industry News
The original names of popular landmarks in Yosemite National Park were restored Monday after a more than three-year legal wrangle involving the park’s former concessioner, its new concessioner, and the United States government was settled. DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (Delaware North), the United States of America, and Yosemite Hospitality, LLC (Aramark) have settled the lawsuit filed by Delaware North related to Delaware North’s former concession contract at Yosemite with the National Park Service. Delaware North will receive a total of $12-million from Aramark.
“We’ve been vigilant from the very beginning to have the names restored,” said Scott Gediman, spokesman for the National Park Service. “We’re just really excited and feel that the settlement is best for everyone and concludes a lengthy lawsuit that could have continued for years.”
Names to the locations within the park formerly operated by Delaware North were changed in March 2016. Curry Village in Yosemite Valley, which traces its roots to 1899, became known as Half Dome Village. Wawona Hotel built south of the valley in 1876, changed to the Big Trees Lodge. The Ahwahnee hotel, completed in 1927, was dubbed Majestic Yosemite Hotel.
Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area will also return to being called Badger Pass Ski Area, its name since opening in the 1930s. The Yosemite Valley Lodge, formerly the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, will keep its current name.
A banner across the sign for Curry Village that displayed its name since March 2016 was removed by park officials Monday morning shortly after the settlement was finalized. Signs throughout the park were also being changed back to the original names, a process that officials said could take several months to fully complete. Gediman said other things, such as menus and in-room directories at the hotels, will also be changed back to the original names.
