National Park Service Forced To Change The Names Of Several Historic Yosemite Hotels, Camp Villages
The National Park Service couldn’t reach an agreement with a departing vendor that controls the trademarks for several buildings and areas inside the park. The change became official today, with new signs going up over the old ones, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Also getting a name change: Curry Village, a campsite leading to Half Dome, will now be Half Dome Village; Yosemite Lodge at the Falls is Yosemite Valley Lodge; and Badger Pass Ski Area has become the Yosemite Ski and Snowboard arena.
“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,” Park Superintendent Don Neubacher said in a statement announcing the changes in January. “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.”
The Park Service was forced to make the switches to avoid potential trademark infringement issues with the concessioner that previously controlled those areas and buildings, DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite Inc. The company or its predecessor had trademarked those famous Yosemite attractions without Park Service approval, and says they’re worth $50 million, according to the Park Service.
The agency is fighting a trademark of the name Yosemite National Park as well.
“I definitely feel like it’s a historical moment,” a park spokesman told the L.A. Times. “There’s always change but Half Dome and El Capitan are still there… Yosemite is as beautiful as ever.”
Yosemite National Park’s historic hotels, camp villages get new names [Los Angeles Times]
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