Government Shutdown Forces Closure of North Cascades National Park Service Complex

Date: October 1, 2013
Contact: Ken Hires, 360-854-7365 ext. 13

Sedro Woolley, WA – October 1, 2013 – Because of the shutdown of the federal government caused by the lapse in appropriations, the National Park Service (NPS) has closed all 401 national parks, including North Cascades National Park Service Complex. All visitor facilities including the North Cascades and Golden West Visitor Centers, park hotels, campgrounds and roads – except for State Highway 20, a thru way – are closed. The park will remain closed until the government reopens.

Superintendent Karen Taylor-Goodrich said that park visitors in all overnight campgrounds and lodges will be given until 3 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Thursday, October 3 to make travel arrangements and leave the park. In addition, all park programs and special events have been canceled, including: Buckner Orchard Harvest Fest in Stehekin.

Nationally, more than 715,000 visitors a day frequent the National Park System. Nationwide the NPS stands to lose approximately $450,000 per day in lost revenue from fees collected at entry stations and fees paid for in-park activities such as cave tours, boat rides and camping. Gateway communities across the country see about $76 million per day in total sales from visitor spending that is lost during a government shutdown. Visitors spend about $26 million a year in the communities around North Cascades National Park Service Complex.

In North Cascades National Park Service Complex, 118 employees are on furlough because of the shutdown and approximately 40 concessions employees are similarly affected. 18 NPS employees remain on duty, providing security and emergency services. Over 100 visitors per night will not be able to utilize concessions lodges and restaurants during the shutdown.

Nationwide the shutdown has also furloughed more than 20,000 National Park Service employees; approximately 3,000 employees remain on duty to ensure essential health, safety, and security functions at parks and facilities. About 12,000 park concessions employees are also affected.

Because it will not be maintained, the National Park Service website will be down for the duration of the shutdown. NPS.gov has more than 750,000 pages and 91 million unique visitors each year.

For updates on the shutdown, please visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.

About the National Park Service. National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.