Parks and Resorts
January 2023
Squire Resort at the Grand Canyon grows Parks and Resorts portfolio
Delaware North in early January 2023 announced its continued expansion in the parks and lodging sector through the acquisition of the Squire Resort at the Grand Canyon, a part of the Best Western Signature Collection.
The 322-room hotel and resort is perfectly situated in Tusayan, Ariz. – only 7 miles from the South Rim entrance of Grand Canyon National Park, making it one of the closest lodging options to the park.
The charming desert property boasts five food and beverage offerings, including a fine-dining restaurant and a casual eatery, along with a banquet facility. The property also features both an indoor and outdoor pool, a fully equipped fitness center, a bowling and arcade area and employee housing.
JUNE 2023
Tenaya at Yosemite welcomes guests after rebranding, enhancing resort
Following a rebrand in 2022 to better reflect the overall amenities the resort offers, Tenaya at Yosemite, Delaware North’s luxury resort outside of Yosemite National Park, welcomed guests in 2023 with additional resort enhancements, including a complete renovation of the lodge’s lobby, and activities, such as guided night hikes, panning for minerals, gemstones and gold, bike rentals and an 18-foot climbing wall.
The resort also launched a revamped bus tour program, Yosemite 360 Bus Tours, with a new fleet of all-terrain, all-weather buses and expanded, custom-curated tour options.
JUNE 2023
Delaware North to continue providing retail, food and beverage services at Yellowstone National Park
The National Park Service, in June 2023, awarded Delaware North a new 15-year contract to continue operating food and beverage and retail services at the 11 Yellowstone General Stores in Yellowstone National Park.
The company has operated the stores since 2003, providing a wide range of retail, food and beverage products, and dining outlets to the millions of guests that visit the park annually. The general stores range in size from 900 to 9,300 square feet, spread across the 3,471 square miles of Yellowstone National Park, and employ more than 500 people each summer.
JuLY 2023
New Welcome Center at Niagara Falls State Park features food and retail spaces
In July 2023, Delaware North opened the Taste of Niagara Food Court and Shops at Niagara in the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Welcome Center at Niagara Falls State Park. Food and beverage offerings feature local Taste N.Y. vendors, such as Wardynski’s, Costanzo’s Bakery and DiCamillo Bakery, while retail offerings include exclusive merchandise from brands such as Champion, Cotopaxi and Oxford Pennant.
The Top of the Falls Restaurant on Goat Island at the park also reopened with a brand-new look and feel, including a new menu featuring more local flavors.
The Welcome Center and restaurant improvements were part of the first phase of Delaware North’s commitment of more than $12 million in capital investments to enhance the dining and retail experiences at the park over the next several years. Delaware North has operated at the park since 1995 and will continue doing so through 2035, after being awarded a new 13-year contract in 2022.
JULY 2023
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex becomes Certified Autism Center, paving the way for inclusive experiences for autistic and sensory-sensitive guests
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex partnered with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to become a Certified Autism Center™ in 2023.
To achieve this certification, the visitor complex team completed training to better understand and welcome autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors. Several new features and services, such as on-site sensory guidance, designated low-sensory areas and a sensory guide, are also available to ensure an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all guests.
DECember 2023
Blue Origin exhibit opens at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which Delaware North operates for NASA on Florida’s Space Coast, opened its first permanent, interactive Blue Origin exhibit, an immersive virtual experience that mimics the New Shepard rocket capsule’s journey above the Karman Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The exhibit features flight seats and virtual reality headsets for guests to wear during the 4-minute immersive journey through the full rocket launch cycle, from takeoff to return to Earth. The experience was developed with collaboration between scientists, engineers and producers, giving guests a high-quality experience and inspiring a new generation of space enthusiasts.
