I can’t believe that The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite (among other Yosemite landmarks) is going to be renamed!
As Kurtis Alexander said from SFGate.com, “Delaware North, the concessionaire, out of Buffalo, N.Y., wants $51 million from its successor to surrender the names of several landmarks that have been part of Yosemite for decades. The company claims the monikers became its intellectual property during the 23 years it ran the park’s lodges, campgrounds and other tourist accommodations.
National Park Service officials are fighting a lawsuit that Delaware North filed last year to require Yosemite’s incoming concessionaire, Aramark of Philadelphia, to pay compensation for using the names. But with the switchover coming in March, Yosemite officials said Thursday they were heading off potential confusion and simplifying things for Aramark by making the revisions.
As of March 1, the Ahwahnee will be renamed the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. Curry Village will become Half Dome Village, and the Badger Pass Ski Area will become Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area.”
SERIOUSLY????? Is nothing sacred? What will be next, our planet Earth? Maybe some day we will each be given corporate names right out of the womb. Unreal.
The Ahwahnee Hotel
Should you wish to purchase this image, please click here.
January 15, 2016 at 7:25 am
Beautiful photo as always, Laura. I see no reason to rename a landmark like that. Someone somewhere has what they think is a great idea but it seems rather selfish.
January 15, 2016 at 7:27 am
I agree whole heartedly. Makes me wonder where we are heading as a society. Hundreds of years from now, how will things be identified? By a chain of words separated by commas?
January 15, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Although the Park Service probably considers themselves above such things, perhaps the best solution would be a more appropriate renaming. Something like Apple once did to Carl Sagan.
January 15, 2016 at 2:41 pm
BHA LMAO! OMG…I’m cracking up here. Seriously…has the world gone mad? 😛
January 15, 2016 at 7:34 am
Love the photo! Such a sad story! Majestic Yosemite Lodge just doesn’t sound the same! I had the pleasure of staying there last July..Amazing location!! 🙂
January 15, 2016 at 8:53 am
Thank you Michael! It is really depressing that these historic names will be changed. I’m so glad you enjoyed staying there! We enjoy going there as well. 🙂
January 15, 2016 at 8:57 am
Thankfully the location of the hotel will always be the same, Located perfectly in the Yosemite Valley! Just very frustrating that the concessioner would keep the name!! SAD 😦
Pingback: No Longer The Ahwahnee :-( | GrumpyRailroad
January 15, 2016 at 7:56 am
I believe the names will come back. Delaware North should not be allowed to operate in any park from now on. Great photo of the Ahwahnee!
January 15, 2016 at 8:55 am
Well, another article said the change of names is a fait accompli. 😦 We will see. It would be a shame if they changed. And thanks about the image!
January 15, 2016 at 7:56 am
Beautiful image Laura. So sad they are changing an iconic name!
January 15, 2016 at 8:55 am
Thank you Ravi and indeed it is. BTW…I really love your new Gravatar!
January 15, 2016 at 11:05 am
Thanks Laura!
January 15, 2016 at 10:53 am
Anything for a quick buck!!! Great image 🙂 The mountain is pure Adams drama!
January 15, 2016 at 11:10 am
Call it what you want – they tried to rename the Tri-Boro Bridge in NYC to the RFK bridge, but it’s still the Tri-Boro…
January 15, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Yeah but did they really rename it. I find it deplorable that these names can be bought and sold. Some call it “the way our world works”, but I don’t like the way our world works then. There is a value that is not monetary that is being ignored, much like the demographic of older people who are pretty much disregarded because they are not the major percentage of consumers.
January 15, 2016 at 1:28 pm
I agree…
January 15, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Laura Nikon Macky – has a certain appeal ☺
January 15, 2016 at 12:20 pm
LOL….they can’t buy me! Nope, no sir. Hmm…
January 15, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Gorgeous image, Laura!!! As for people …. I swear nothing is sacred to a lot of them. How stupid to change names due to “politics”. Come on, get real!! ❤
January 15, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Thank you Amy. It is so incredibly sad. We need history and legacy and SOMETHING to be the same. We have the power to do it as a people. I posted a petition on my FB page and many are sharing. We can stop this!!
January 15, 2016 at 3:21 pm
People need to unite. We really do have power but we need numbers. Lately we have become so disconnected as a people and that is very concerning. And you are right, darn it, we need history! Too much keeps changing. Consistency is good and is so needed!
January 15, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Yes! Amen Sista’!
January 15, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Great photo and interesting article!
I don’t have to worry about any corporation wanting compensation for the usage of my name; there isn’t any peace in the world!
January 15, 2016 at 2:40 pm
I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Well “enjoyed” might be a bit of a stretch! Let’s pray this doesn’t go through. it’s so depressing!
January 15, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Wowza on the image there, Laura. Those new names are soulless. imho 😉
January 15, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Thank you Elen. Soulless is a PERFECT word to describe those names. The Majestic Yosemite Hotel??? Reminds me of that movie the Marigold Hotel or whatever it was. Ahwahnee speaks native american and a connection to mother earth which is what Yosemite represents. *sighs*
January 15, 2016 at 2:17 pm
Change is always hard, but my tolerance for the greed of business grows steadily less each year.
January 15, 2016 at 2:44 pm
I’ve kind of had it with it to tell you the truth. Greed is ruining everything including the holidays by making the monetary importance grow and grow which diminishes the meaning of holidays and everything around us. 😦 Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now!
January 15, 2016 at 2:37 pm
I did not know about this, and I was so very upset that I could not even reply until now. So many of us have wonderful associations with the name “Ahwahnee”. There is something utterly deplorable about this particular case. It has to do with values, but I am still sputtering and cannot articulate it!!
January 15, 2016 at 2:45 pm
I know what you mean Carol. I’m still so annoyed about it all. I’ve shared this petition on FB and friends are resharing it. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/488/164/638/remove-your-trademark-on-names-in-yosemite-national-park/?taf_id=20557082&cid=fb_na
January 15, 2016 at 2:45 pm
Such a wonderful photo. I read the story in the paper this morning and was flabbergasted and just so mad. How can anyone like even think they own the rights. In my heart and in my words it will always be the Ahwahnee and Camp Curry. Greed is just getting out of hand.I would hope this puts a black mark for any future work they do anywhere.
January 15, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Me too! I went to the Delaware North Facebook site and people are fuming over it! I don’t think they’ve ever had this much activity on that page before lol. Here’s a petition that I’ve been sharing on Facebook and others are resharing. If you feel like signing it, that would be great otherwise no worries! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/488/164/638/remove-your-trademark-on-names-in-yosemite-national-park/?taf_id=20557082&cid=fb_na
January 15, 2016 at 2:45 pm
It is just such a shame that this has happened – seems to me to be rather small minded
January 15, 2016 at 5:19 pm
Thanks for telling me about the petition. I just signed it.
January 15, 2016 at 7:06 pm
Thank you so much Carol and you’re welcome. I was incensed when i heard this
January 15, 2016 at 5:26 pm
That is scary, to say the least. Your photo, on the other hand, is beautiful!
January 15, 2016 at 7:06 pm
Indeed. :(. But thank you!
January 15, 2016 at 6:20 pm
sad to hear this.
January 15, 2016 at 7:08 pm
Me too. :(. Hope you’re well.
January 15, 2016 at 7:41 pm
Not too bad, at the moment.
January 15, 2016 at 8:34 pm
Great. Just checking!!! 😜
January 15, 2016 at 9:21 pm
I have something big happening this week….so it will be interesting to see how I cope. Thankfully I have medication to see me through.
January 15, 2016 at 10:35 pm
Oh no. I hope you’ll be ok. Write me if you need support. Hugs
January 16, 2016 at 12:28 am
I will. Thank you so much.
January 16, 2016 at 7:33 am
😀
January 15, 2016 at 7:34 pm
They bought the name and camp curry? Is nothing sacred?
January 15, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Can you believe it? So sad.
January 15, 2016 at 9:06 pm
Milady…nothing is sacred
January 15, 2016 at 10:35 pm
Sad 😦
January 15, 2016 at 11:58 pm
Yeah
January 16, 2016 at 8:29 am
It’s shameful. Delaware North has made a very grave error… As someone who spent many Januarys in Yosemite staying at the Ahwahnee Hotel, I am not amused in the least with this maneuver, and I will be directing energy towards the ultimate failure of Delaware North.
January 16, 2016 at 9:36 am
So shameful. How can people live with themselves doing things like this? I’m glad you are directing your energy in that way. I posted a disgruntled statement on their FB page.
January 16, 2016 at 10:15 am
I read someone use the comment that what is happening is “obscene”. That is a great adjective.
January 16, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Totally!!
January 16, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Actually, I decided to look into Delaware North. This really isn’t entirely their disaster, but instead, is a mess the NPS is primarily responsible for. This doesn’t mean I excuse DNC, however, it appears they were blindsided by the NPS. I also got some information from a friend who had a past with this whole thing and it COULD have all gone much, much differently, however, lack of foresight caused this, not the DNC: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yosemite-concessionaire-has-offered-national-park-service-free-use-of-yosemite-trademark-names-during-legal-dispute-300204964.html?tc=eml_cleartime
January 17, 2016 at 8:24 am
Very interesting! I haven’t looked much into it so I appreciate this information. This never should’ve happened. I really appreciate this a whole lot!