Date: June 11, 2009
Contact: Russ Bodnar, (505) 786-7014 ext. 240
On Tuesday, June 2, 2009, Secretary Ken Salazar announced three summer weekends where national park entrance fees will be waived. They are: June 20-21 (Father’s Day weekend), July 18-19, and August 15-16.
Many Americans are facing tough economic times right now. This is our way of trying to help, making it easier to visit a national park, to bring your family for a day or a weekend of fun. National Parks are America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer…it’s free! ·
--We’re inviting you to come by for a visit, to relax, to learn a little bit about this great nation…and to just have some fun.
--Tough economic times call for economical fun, and you can’t beat America’s 391 national parks for family time, fresh air, and opportunities to learn about our great country.
--These three weekends are a chance for a free visit to a park that has an entrance fee – but every day – there are more than 200 national parks that never charge an entrance fee. Find one close to you at www.nps.gov.
“We would like to welcome all our neighbors to take advantage of these free weekends to reacquaint themselves with their local national park in their backyard,” said Superintendent Barbara West. Chaco Culture NHP offers opportunities to experience some of the most notable and best preserved ancestral Puebloan sites in the world.
The park provides daily tours of Pueblo Bonito (10am and 2pm), Night Sky Programs on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings (8pm) and other special presentations, like the summer solstice events with Bert Leno's Acoma Native Cultural Dancers at Pueblo Bonito on June 20, 2009. The Gallo Campground will be closed for repairs (beginning June 15 for 3 weeks approximately), but there are many nearby camping options. Call the park for updates and alternative camping options: (505) 786 7014 ext 221 or visit www.nps.gov/chcu/.
The park is approximately 70 miles south of Farmington, off of US 550, on County Road 7900, and CR 7950.
