Shutdown Impacts

Recent Posts

Federal budget battles leave lingering scars on parks, gateway towns

By: |
The 16-day shutdown of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in October cost an estimated $21.1 million in lost total visitor and recreation spending to the parks and surrounding communities. (Ruffin Prevost/Yellowstone Gate)

In a region hit hard by government spending squabbles that started the tourism season with park budget cuts under Sequestration and ended the season with a 16-day partial government shutdown that closed Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, fears linger that ongoing Congressional dysfunction will again cause chaos for travelers and lost revenue for parks, business owners and workers. Despite recent assurances from Congressional leaders that a shutdown won't happen in January, tourism industry insiders and park managers say the "new normal of governing by crisis" will continue to inflict economic harm on the parks and their gateway communities. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, cody, conessioners, gardiner, government shutdown, shutdown impacts

Grand Teton closure shut down park revenues along with public access

By: |
Grand Teton National Park will close some of its roads to seasonal travel in preparation for winter.

The 16-day closure of Grand Teton National Park forced visitors to scrap long-planned vacations, and it cost local small business owners badly needed fall revenue. But it also left cash registers empty at the bookstores and entry gates that help fund the park. Based on 2012 October visitation numbers and a solid increase in park traffic so far this year, Grand Teton missed out on collecting an estimated $150,000 in entrance fee revenues during the shutdown. Continue Reading →

Filed under: government shutdown, grand teton association, jan lynch, mary gibson scott, national elk refuge

Protestors gather at East Gate to demand reopening of Yellowstone Park

By: |
Protestors gather at the East Gate to Yellowstone National Park on Sunday to demand a solution to the federal government shutdown that has closed national parks nationwide.

A grassroots protest Sunday afternoon at the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park was a study in contrasts, as environmentally minded nature-lovers joined Constitution-quoting small government advocates in showing support for the park, and to demand a solution to the government shutdown that has dragged on for two weeks. Despite temperatures in the low 40s and sporadic drizzle, approximately 75 people gathered for a half-hour demonstration during which anyone was allowed to speak, and that concluded with a spontaneous singing of "God Bless America." Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, Yellowstone, cody, east gate, government shutdown, protest

Wyoming won’t pay to operate Yellowstone and Grand Teton during shutdown

By: |

Wyoming will not pay to operate Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks under a plan announced Thursday that could allow some states to cover the costs of reopening national parks closed under the government shutdown. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the federal government would consider offers from states to cover operational costs to reopen some parks, according to the Associated Press. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, Yellowstone, government shutdown, matt mead, sequestration, wyoming

Group plans shutdown protest Sunday at Yellowstone East Gate

By: |
A group of Park County, Wyo. residents is planning a Sunday protest of the federal government shutdown that has closed Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks to all visitors.

A group of Park County, Wyo. residents is planning a Sunday protest of the federal government shutdown that has closed Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks to all visitors. Organizers describe their effort as a "peaceful but determined" gathering aimed at raising awareness of public displeasure with the shutdown. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, Yellowstone, cody, government shutdown, politics, protest

Yellowstone shutdown brings ‘overwhelming’ losses to small businesses

By: |
The Dude Motel sign lights up the night sky in West Yellowstone, Mont., where tourism has dropped sharply since the government shutdown closed Yellowstone National Park.

Locally owned small businesses around Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are facing "overwhelming" financial losses in the wake of the continuing government shutdown, but their concerns have not found traction in Washington, D.C. In small towns around the parks, the tourism industry has been hit hard by cancellations, shortened trips and a sudden drop in business. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, cody, cooke city, gardiner, government shutdown, west yellowstone

Yellowstone and Grand Teton shutdown ‘devastating’ for worker morale

By: |
Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott said the government shutdown is "devastating to morale."

While the shutdown of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks has wrecked vacation plans for visitors, it also has idled hundreds of National Park Service employees and others, a move that has proven "devastating to morale" for workers who live, shop and play in the parks and in nearby gateway communities. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Grand Teton, Yellowstone, government shutdown, national park service

Everything you need to know about the Yellowstone and Grand Teton shutdown

By: |

The government shutdown has already meant wrecked vacations for visitors and blocked access for locals trying to enter Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. But what about the nuts and bolts of how the shutdown governs park operations in the meantime? Here are answers to a few of the most commonly asked questions about how the shutdown affects Yellowstone and Grand Teton: Continue Reading →

Filed under: Grand Teton, Yellowstone, government shutdown