Seeking Public Comment

Date: December 31, 2014
Contact: Dave Carney, 520 723-3172 Ext 118

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Proposes Entrance Fee Increase.

Coolidge, Arizona – Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is seeking public input concerning possible fee increases in 2015. The current park entrance fee of $5.00 per person (good for 7 days) has been in place since 2006. The proposed entrance fee would be increased to $10.00 per person (good for 7 days). Entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age or holders of the America the Beautiful Federal Interagency Recreational Lands Passes (Annual, Senior, Access, Military and Volunteer Passes). These passes may be obtained at the Park.

“Revenues from entrance fees are used to improve facilities, infrastructure, and visitor services,” said Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Superintendent Karl Pierce. “We are committed to keeping the park affordable but we also want to provide visitors with the best possible experience.”

Fee revenues from entrance stations have provided funding for many projects and staffing. All of the projects focus on improvements to visitor services, facilities, and visitor safety. Recent examples of projects at Casa Grande Ruins include the construction of the new theater at the park visitor center and a new park movie and new historic area exhibits used by visitors to the monument daily. Additional revenue raised by a fee increase would help with plans to provide access to more of the monument, update visitor center displays, make improvements to the picnic area, and provide for the treatment and preservation work needed to maintain the Great House and other park features visitors enjoy every day.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a strong economic engine for the surrounding area. According to the most recent economic analysis by the US Geological Survey, in 2013 more than 65,000 visitors spent over 3.5 million dollars in communities near the park. That spending supported 51 jobs in the local area.

The public comment period is open for 30 days from January 1 through January 30. Please access the National Park Service planning website to comment: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/cagr. Written comments can be mailed to the park Superintendent at, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, 1100 W Ruins Drive, Coolidge, AZ 85128. You may also comment through our main park website (www.nps.gov/cagr). Look for the Contact Us link on the left side of the home page under Park Tools. Or, stop by the park’s visitor center to fill out a visitor comment form between the hours of 9am to 5pm. Comments are being accepted through January 30, 2015.

Following the comment period, your feedback will be analyzed to determine how, or whether, fee increases would be implemented.