VOL 27 ISSUE 27, July 13, 2026
Delaware North Parks and Resorts has launched WayboundTM, a purposefully designed premium alternative lodging brand, in a major step to expand the company’s presence in the outdoor recreation, lodging and hospitality sector.
The new brand recently debuted with Waybound Yosemite, located near the south entrance of Yosemite National Park in Fish Camp, Calif., near Delaware North’s Tenaya at Yosemite resort.
Parks and Resorts leadership had first introduced the new brand internally at a Transformation Information Session on the alternative lodging strategy in July 2025.
The Waybound brand features separate premium (detached) cabins called The Havens – modern thoughtfully designed retreats that blend elevated comfort with seamless access to one of the world’s most renowned destinations.
The Havens serve as a contemporary basecamp for exploration and reflection. Each two-bedroom cabin features spacious interiors with large picture windows, front porches and back patios that bring the landscape into the living space.
Guests have access to signature amenities, including cocktail chests offering craft mixology and spaboxes providing wellness items tailored to their locale.
The Commons serves as the central hub of Waybound, operating as a center for gathering, dining and programming that embodies the brand’s service philosophy of hosting guest experiences. Dining spans multiple venues: The Coffee Counter, featuring breakfast bites and dedicated barista service; Plates + Pours, a social hub with afternoon and evening bartenders and a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner service; and The General Store, offering curated provisions, merchandise and grab-and-go options.
Just outside The Commons, a resort-style swimming pool and hot tub sit within a pool deck featuring abundant shade and lounge seating. Adjacent to the pool, lively firepits create gathering spaces, with a complimentary s’mores bar available in the evenings.
Throughout their stay, guests experience daily Waybound Moments – multisensory touchpoints designed to deepen their connection to the location and surrounding landscape.
“Waybound is grounded in a philosophy that spaces designed to foster genuine human connection with nature and with oneself and others enhance rather than diminish the places they occupy, underpinned by a commitment to sustainable stewardship,” said Derek Zwickey, chief operating officer of Delaware North Parks and Resorts. “Travelers are seeking more than traditional lodging – they want elegant, private spaces combined with authentic outdoor experiences.
“This market hasn’t been developed at scale, which represents a genuine opportunity for innovation and leadership. We don’t want to operate just the four walls of a hotel; we want to operate the whole guest experience. Waybound is our answer to that shift. With Waybound Yosemite we’re establishing the blueprint for the Waybound brand as we expand it across our portfolio in the years ahead,” Zwickey said.
Waybound Yosemite
Waybound Yosemite features significant enhancements to the former Explorer Cabins that opened in 2019 at Tenaya. Delaware North has refined its cabin model across multiple locations since introducing Explorer Cabins in West Yellowstone, Montana, in 2013, later expanding to the greater Yellowstone region, Tenaya at Yosemite and more.
With 50 Havens, Waybound Yosemite represents the evolution into the more elevated Waybound experience of the former Explorer Cabins and its clubhouse, now The Commons, near Tenaya. Waybound Yosemite operates under the independent Waybound brand – a wholly distinct experience with its own identity, design philosophy and approach to hospitality.
Waybound Yosemite guests can also enjoy full access to amenities and experiences at Tenaya at Yosemite, including the resort’s indoor and outdoor pools, steam rooms, saunas, fitness center, game room, on-site dining and spa. A complimentary shuttle connects the Waybound Yosemite grounds to Tenaya, providing access to dining, wellness services, recreatio programs and guided Yosemite experiences without driving.
“Waybound Yosemite is an exciting natural extension of what we’ve built at Tenaya at Yosemite – the next chapter in Delaware North Parks & Resorts’ commitment to providing world-class hospitality in one of the most iconic destinations on earth,” Zwickey said.
A grand opening event for Waybound Yosemite is being planned for August.