Wawona Hotel (soon to be Big Trees Lodge) Yosemite National Park, California
Historic hotels and other landmarks at Yosemite National Park will soon undergo a name change as a multi-million dollar lawsuit with the parks concessionaire, Delaware North, goes on in Washington, D.C.
On March 1st, the Ahwahnee Hotel will be called the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. Curry Village, will be named Half Dome Village. The Yosemite Lodge at the Falls will be called Yosemite Valley Lodge. Wawona Hotel will be named Big Trees Lodge and Badger Pass Ski Area will be called Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area.
The name changes are being made to avoid any disruptions in services during the transition to the parks new concessionaire, Aramark, on March 1st. .Yosemite spokesman, Scott Gediman, said the park service still is fighting for the rights to keep the original names.
Delaware North demands to be paid $51 million for the names and other intellectual property. The park service says the names and other intellectual property are worth about $3.5 million, according to the government’s response to Delaware North lawsuit filed with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
The park service says it only learned of that Delaware North had previously applied for the trademarks on Yosemite names when it prepared to open bids for the concessionary operation.
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