Yellowstone's Largest Concessionaire Starting Operations June 15

Above, Old Faithful Inn does not have an opening date at present. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the pandemic is starting to taper off (well, somewhat), decisions for openings by national park concessionaires are beginning to be made.

The latest is at Yellowstone National Park.

From the Gillette News Record:

CODY (WNE) —Yellowstone National Park’s largest concessionaire has announced it will not begin operations until June 15, and some of its most iconic structures may not open at all this summer. 

The Park itself is also closed, with likely delays to opening the east gate. 

Xanterra Travel Collection, operator of more than 830 buildings, nine hotels and more than 30 food service facilities and tour operations, said when operations do begin lodging and service operations will be limited. Its operations at other parks are also delayed. 

Rick Hoeninghausen, a media representative for Xanterra, said initially, lodging operations will be limited to cabins with private bathrooms – meaning only Frontier Cabins, Western Cabins, and Cottages at Old Faithful, Canyon, Mammoth and Lake areas will open. 

The Old Faithful Inn however, does not have an opening date, along with Grant Village, and Roosevelt Lodge. Those with reservations at any of these lodging facilities during the closure will have their reservations canceled and refunded their money.

To read more, go here. 

Report: Grand Teton "Threatened" By Drilling

Above, a foraging mule deer near a Grand Teton National Park campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A report by an environmental advocacy group says Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is to be considered "threatened".

According to the Gillette News Record:

JACKSON — A new report from an environmental advocacy group lists Grand Teton National Park as among the dozen parks most threatened by the hurried pace of energy leasing and drilling taking place under the Trump administration. 

The 44-page National Parks Conservation Association’s “Spoiled Parks” includes Grand Teton not because of the threat of drilling within or immediately adjacent to the park, but because of the threat gas pads and drilling rigs pose to migration routes pronghorn and mule deer follow to summer range there. 

“The future of wildlife migration into Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks is dependent on the preservation of their historic travel corridors,” Steve Iobst, a former deputy superintendent of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, said in a statement.

To read more, go here.