The Ahwahnee Is Coming Back: Yosemite Settles Lawsuits to Regain Trademarks

After a years-long intellectual property legal battle, the names of several Yosemite lodges will be restored to their former glory. The private company that ran the lodges and concessions at the national park, Delaware North, claimed it owned the rights to the lodges’ names. The National Park Service disagreed. As Delaware North’s contract was getting ready to expire in 2016, the argument turned into a legal battle.

The National Park Service announced Monday the lawsuit was settled between Delaware North, the federal government, and the new concessions vendor, Aramark. Under the agreement, the trademarks will be transferred to Aramark for the duration of the vendor’s contract, and then transferred to the National Park Service if and when the contract should expire.

For the last several years, the Ahwahnee was renamed the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. Curry Village became Half Dome Village, the Wawona Hotel became Big Trees Lodge, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls was renamed Yosemite Valley Lodge, and the Badger Pass Ski Area turned into Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area.

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Now it looks like the older, more familiar names are set to return, though it’s not clear when.

“The National Park Service looks forward to the restoration of some of the previous names of the properties at Yosemite, including the Ahwahnee hotel, and the resumed use of other trademarks in connection with concessioner activities at Yosemite. Any changes to the current names of properties at Yosemite National Park following this settlement will be based upon a schedule to be determined by Aramark and the National Park Service,” the National Park Service said in a press release.