Visitors at the famous Yosemite National Park's Ahwahnee Hotel were surprised when they arrived at the popular hotel on Tuesday. A new hotel name welcomed them with the news that Ahwahnee Hotel's sign was stolen at the eve of changing its trademark name.
According to Fresnobee, the iconic Ahwahnee Hotel's sign was looted on Saturday night or Sunday morning. The shocking incident follows the high profile transition of Yosemite National Park's concessionaire from Delaware North to Aramark. Along with the transition, the names of the famous park hotels and parks will be changed as the new operator assumes the concession. Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman claimed that park rangers are investigating on the stolen signage.
"We feel strongly that these iconic facilities, and their historic names, ultimately belong to the American people," Gediman said. "But with open litigation, these name changes are necessary to continue service without disruption."
It is unclear if the stolen Ahwahnee Hotel's sign was taken by thieves or was intentionally done amidst the controversial name changes of Yosemite's famous landmarks. Ahwahnee Hotel's new name was changed to Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Fox40 claims. Ahwahnee Hotel was built in 1927 and since then it has been its trademark. Apart from Ahwahnee, names of other hotels and famous sites in the park will also be changed. Curry Village, Wawona Hotel, Badger Pass Ski Area and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls will be Half Dome Village, Big Trees Lodge, Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area and Yosemite Valley Lodge correspondingly.
"The signs are temporary because we do want to retain the (historic) names, but with the new contract starting and a compressed time frame we just wanted to get those up," Yosemite spokesman said.
A petition was filed by the National Park Service in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office over the trademark issues. The park claimed that Delaware North secretly trademarked the names of Yosemite landmarks such as Ahwahnee Hotel without their knowledge. Gediman insisted that the temporary signs will be permanent eventually if the court battle will happen for months, Yahoo reports.
According to the National Park Service, the lawsuit filed by their former concessionaire as breach of contract forced the park to change its name. As for now the park and Aramark are busy in changing all the signage in the area. Aramark will be changing the existing signs with a provisional canvas signage.
