Selling out our National Parks
- balzaccom
- Feb 13
- 2 min read
This is not good. The fox supervising the henhouse:
For those who might have forgotten, Delaware North's management of Yosemite National Park concessions was not a success. And when they lost the contract, they withheld the trademark for the Ahwahnee Hotel and Curry Village, putting their corporate interests above the interests of both the park and the American people. Here's a summary:
Delaware North has faced significant criticism and legal battles, most notably in 2016 when they sued the National Park Service for over $50 million, claiming trademark rights to iconic Yosemite names like "Ahwahnee Hotel" and "Curry Village" after losing a contract. The 2019 settlement required them to return these, but the incident highlighted concerns about corporate control of public lands. They continue to operate in several national parks, including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone.
Key Issues and Controversies:
Trademark Disputes: After losing the Yosemite concessions contract, Delaware North claimed they owned the rights to historic park names, resulting in a lawsuit and required renaming of famous locations, such as the Ahwahnee Hotel, which was temporarily rebranded to the "Majestic Yosemite Hotel".
Settlement Costs: The 2019 settlement involved a $12 million payout to Delaware North, funded in part by the new concessionaire, Aramark.
Controversial Leadership Nomination: In 2026, the nomination of Scott Socha, a long-time Delaware North executive, to lead the National Park Service raised concerns among conservation groups, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, who argued the company prioritizes profit over park protection.
Business Model Concerns: Critics have accused the company of "stealthily" accumulating rights to iconic names, as noted in a 2026 article in Outside Magazine, and argue that their practices, such as those noted by the Sierra Club, demonstrate excessive commercialization of national treasures.
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