Tourist destination business owners fear that the closure could result in a death sentence
Gardiner says, “It’s the city of Yellowstone. It lives and dies from tourism, and this will be a pretty big hit.”
— Bill Berg, Park County Commissioner
The damage was enormous and the entire park was closed. Park director Kam Shory said at a news conference that he believed that Yellowstone was the first to be closed by a flood in the 150-year history of Yellowstone.
More than 30 years ago, the park was closed due to a wildfire. On Tuesday, Shory said the South Loop could resume soon next week, giving visitors access to Old Faithful Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring and other well-known Yellowstone sites. However, the devastation of Gardiner and Cook City’s northern loop and its entrances has created the greatest uncertainty not only for park visitors, but also for tourism-dependent communities.
Gardiner is “a town in Yellowstone,” Park County Commissioner Bill Berg said at a press conference. “It lives and dies from tourism, and this will be a pretty big hit.” Early discussions suggest that road repairs can take up to 24 months.
“The news we all get today” is “it could be a year or two.” Victor Kaufman, owner of Cowboys Lodge and Grill and partner of Gardiner’s Iron Horse Bar and Grill, said after the community meeting:
To those affected, this felt like an act of God. “What we’ve experienced over the last few years is almost biblical. There was a plague and then a flood,” said a paradise valley immigrant, halfway between Livingston and Gardiner. Colin Davis, owner of Chico Hot Springs, said.
“What’s the next disaster? I think we’re all waiting for the locust plague,” said Marketing of the Chamber of Commerce at Red Lodge, a town in Yellowstone at the end of the scenic Beartooth Highway. The director, Tim Weemer, responded. Aerial footage between Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner shows that many of the roads are damaged or missing, making the northern part of the park inaccessible.
While the Montana National Guard was deployed in the Yellowstone area, the Biden administration approved the Montana Disaster Declaration and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials arrived to begin assessing the damage. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) has traveled abroad on a private trip, and Deputy Governor Kristen Juras will sign the declaration as “Acting Governor.” He met with a business leader on Friday and returned to investigate the damage.
National Park Service reports that tourism to Yellowstone, which accounts for about 1 million monthly visitors in the summer, will support 7,000 jobs in the region and will bring $ 642 million to the local economy in 2019. Brought about.
Since then, visits to Yellowstone have only increased. Gardiner is particularly related to the fate of the park, and Kaufman estimates that his business depends more than 95% on tourists passing through the town to access Yellowstone.
Some of the largest hotels have already been closed, staff have been slaughtered, and guests have been refunded, Kaufman said. He fears that the closure could result in Gardiner’s death sentence. “At this time of the year, all business owners are very well utilized and these refunds are bankrupting everyone,” Kaufman said. “If we don’t get help, this town can die.”
In Cook City and Silvergate, in the town of Northeast Gate in Yellowtone, wildlife photographer and owner of the Silver Willows cabin, Max War, has already felt the effects of the floods completely blocking isolated areas. .. “Currently, there are up to seven cancellations in the first 48 hours. So far, we’ve lost about $ 13,700 in revenue,” he said. The only way to reach Cook City and Silvergate during the winter is through the road north of the park.
Tourism officials in the region are also considering long-term implications as they adapt to physical and economic losses. Fly fishing guide Doug McKnight expects to return to the Yellowstone River by July, but the Montana Department of Fish and Wildlife Park reveals everything about how natural disasters affect the entire ecosystem that supports fish. I am concerned about whether it will affect. And their food.
“Whenever there is such water with a riverbed scour, it can be very harsh on insects,” McKnight said, and fish populations may be less than a few years. I added that. But he does not admit defeat. He depends on elasticity and creativity.
“I’m optimistic about fishing. Fishing in Yellowstone may be a sleepy year. Sure, there’s a bit less traffic here. In the river, it’s a guide to fly fishing, making clients lonely, If you want really good fishing, it never hurts, “he said. ..
Wildlife watching guide Karamak Gary, who runs an in-hour nature tour from Gardiner, intends her business to still remain when the park returns to normal. “My plan has certainly been washed away,” she said. “But there are still opportunities. It may not be possible using the road between Gardiner and Mammoth.”
“We thank our visitors for their compassion, elegance and patience in understanding what is happening in the world and how we manage it. I would like to express my intention. “
— Cara McGary, Wildlife Watching Guide
One of her ideas is to show the park to guests when it reopens so that they can use the Forest Office permit. Meanwhile, Stoneberger will continue to operate the newly opened coffee shop. She plans to make sure that workers rebuilding Yellowstone roads are ingesting caffeine and being well nourished.
Much of Yellowstone’s tourism industry is asking prospective guests to consider getting credit for future travel rather than refunds and to be kind to the locals when dealing with disasters. increase. “We would like to thank our visitors for their compassion, elegance and patience in understanding what is happening in the world and how we manage it. “I will,” said McGary.
Floods have also occurred in the Glacier National Park area of northwestern Montana, and the Tourism Board shares similar feelings. “I sympathize with travelers who had to change their plans, but keep in mind that many Montana homes and lives were devastated by this.”
This sentence Came as a traveler They left a one-star review of a local company as their plans were interrupted by the flood. In Paradise Valley, the business coalition formed by Reed emphasizes that the area is open to visitors and there is a lot to explore. “There’s still a lot to do in 22 years,” he says.
He sees it as an opportunity to incorporate Gardiner into the Paradise Valley ecosystem by ensuring that guides and jewelery from the town are hired for visitors. At Red Lodge, Weemer shared plans to invest marketing money in local tourism. “There are many reasons why Montanan is coming to Red Lodge,” Weemer said.