Figures just compiled by the National Park Service list total visitation at the recreation area for 2000 as 9.072,545; 278,692 down from last year’s 9,351,237. This represents a decrease of three percent.
Nationwide, the National Park Service was down 2.2 million visitors for 2000.
Since the park service started collecting such figures in 1937, when 552,128 people visited, more than 302-million people visit some portion of the 1.5 million-acre recreation area created when Hoover Dam was built in 1935.
Ten years ago the visitation count flirted with nine million but didn’t reach that figure until 1992 with 9.343 million. The count jumped to 9.9-million in 1994 and eclipsed the 10-million mark in 1995 but fell to 9.68-million in 1996 and 8.84-million in 1997.
Park officials have no absolute idea of why the three percent drop from last year, but the introduction of entrance stations may have had some impact on the count.
“Undoubtedly the cost of gasoline effected our visitors somewhat,” said Dan Yeager, Lake Mead NRA chief of fee management. “There is also the question of the entrance stations. Many national parks notice a slight decrease the first year entrance stations are used,” said Yeager. “Invariably those decreases are reversed the following year.”
The decrease notwithstanding, park officials believe the recreation experience at both Lakes Mead and Mohave is as good as it has ever been.
“We continue to strive to meet our vision of being the premier inland water recreation area in the west,” said Bill Dickinson, park superintendent. “The three percent decrease may have been caused by any number of factors. The bottomline is we are not overly concerned and our efforts continue to be channeled towards making the visitor experience as rewarding and educational as possible.”
He added the efforts of the entire park staff are designed make the park a safe and enjoyable place to visit. The Alan Bible Visitor Center and Katherine Landing Ranger Station in Arizona host a variety of educational programs and hikes throughout the year. For details on the most current programs available or other information about Lake Mead NRA, check the park’s web site, http://www.nps.gov/lame.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a unit of the National Park Service.
Media Note: For your information, the following additional statistics regarding park visitation is provided:
| 2000 | 1999 | |
| Access to Lake Mead from Las Vegas: | 5,717,991 | 5,775,998 |
| Access to Lake Mead from Overton: | 485,539 | 497,333 |
| Access to Lake Mead from Valley of Fire: | 276,306 | 288,120 |
| Access to Lake Mead via Temple Bar: | 196,816 | 124,156 |
| Access to Lake Mead via South Cove: | 169,050 | 197,822 |
| Access to Lake Mohave via Cottonwood Cove: | 202,218 | 324,896 |
| Access to Lake Mohave via Willow Beach: | 216,400 | 141,628 |
| Access to Lake Mohave via Katherine Landing: | 1,119,537 | 1,208,141 |
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