Who Owns Yosemite National Park?
It came as shock to many long time Yosemite National Park fans when the names of historic landmarks simply changed this week. Concessionaire DNCY lost its contract after 22 years and wants $50 million for trademarks that were created “without prior National Park Service concurrence,” according to Park officials who claim the trademarks are worth $3.5 million.
“DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite Inc. (DNCY) is shocked and disappointed that the National Park Service would announce unnecessary changes to the beloved names of places in Yosemite National Park, trying to use them as a bargaining chip in a legal dispute involving basic contract rights,” says that company’s press release. The National Park Service in 1993 required DNCY, as the new concessionaire at Yosemite, to purchase the assets of the previous concessionaire, including its intellectual property and assumption of $40 million in liabilities, the release stated.
Trademark claims
Yosemite National Park
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
