Grand Teton National Park Considers Changes to Entrance Fees

Grand Teton National Park is proposing to update its entrance fees and invites public input on this prospect. The proposed fee changes are part of a larger National Park Service initiative to update entry fees that have been in place since 2006 in national parks across the country. As a first step toward potential fee changes, Yellowstone and Grand Teton will conduct a public open house on Wednesday, November 12, at the Lexington Inn on North Cache in Jackson, Wyoming from 6:30–8:00 p.m. Public comments will help determine how, or if, a fee changes would be implemented at Grand Teton. The comment period will be open for 30 days from November 5 through midnight December 5, 2014.

The current fee structure, in place since 2006, includes:

• $25 for 7-day pass to enter both Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks by private vehicle
• $50 for a Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass for one-year entry into both national parks
• $80 for an Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all fee areas on federal lands
• $12 for a 7-day pass to enter both Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park by foot/bicycle
• $20 for a 7-day pass to both Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park by motorcycle

Proposed fee changes would include:

• $30 for a 7-day pass to enter only Grand Teton National Park by private vehicle
• $50 for a 7-day pass to enter both Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park by vehicle
• $60 for an Annual Pass valid for one-year entry into Grand Teton only
• $80 for an Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all fee areas on federal lands
• $15 for a 7-day pass to enter only Grand Teton National Park by foot/bicycle
• $25 for a 7-day pass to enter only Grand Teton National Park by motorcycle

Entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age, or to holders of the following interagency passes: Interagency Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10), Access Pass or Military Pass ($0).

"National parks have historically provided an affordable and memorable vacation experience for individuals and families.When compared to other vacation or recreation areas, national parks offer a bargain for many travelers," said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela."National parks have also struggled to keep pace with increasing costs of providing the best possible visitor experience and therefore, we are looking at a modest fee change that will address the expense of providing important visitor services while keeping pace with the cost of doing business," added Superintendent Vela. "Revenues from entrance fees are used for a variety of critical needs at Grand Teton, including trail improvement, road and pathway resurfacing, restoration of wildlife habitat, and stabilization of historic buildings."

In the past, entrance fee revenues have supported the multi-phase restoration of the Kelly hayfields to improve wildlife habitat for bison and elk, the printing and distribution of park brochures for visitor information and education, road improvement and trail renewal projects.

Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway play an important role in the economic strength of the local and regional communities. For example, a 2013 National Park Service report determined that over 3.9 million visitors to Grand Teton and the JDR Parkway spent over $502 million in gateway communities across northwestern Wyoming.In turn, that spending supported 6,996 jobs in the communities of Jackson, Teton Village, and Dubois, Wyoming, and nearby towns of Driggs and Victor, Idaho.

Anyone wishing to provide public comment about the proposed restructure of park entrance fees should send written comments to: Superintendent, Grand Teton National Park, P.O. Box 170, Moose, Wyoming 83012, or submit comments online. Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or in any other way than those specified.

Changes to the fee structure are proposed to become effective May 1, 2015.



Jeff
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