In early January, Scott Gediman the NPS assistant superintendent for public and legislative affairs, told USA Today, “We feel Half Dome and El Capitan and the Ahwahnee Hotel (and other trademarked names at Yosemite) are part of the national park’s fabric. We feel those names are inextricably linked with Yosemite … and ultimately belong to the American people.”
The sentiment didn’t stop the National Park Service from changing them. A week later, the NPS informed DNC and Aramark that purchase of the trademarked names was not required. The NPS offered different names instead. The Ahwahnee Hotel became the Majestic Hotel, Curry Village became Half Dome Village, and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls became Yosemite Lodge.
