The National Park Service Proposes Entrance Fee Increase at Devils Tower

Date: June 26, 2017
Contact: Nancy Stimson, 307 467 5283

Devils Tower, WY –

The National Park Service proposes increasing the entrance fee to Devils Tower National Monument. In January, 2017, after civic engagement and receiving public support, Devils Tower National Monument raised entrance fees to the Fee Model Group #1 level of the National Park Service (NPS) fee pricing model. In May, 2017, the NPS received direction that all parks not aligned with their designated fee group must begin civic engagement to raise fees to compliance by 2018. All national monuments are in Fee Model Group #2.

NPS Fee Model Groups	Annual Pass	Per Vehicle	Per Person	Per Motorcycle
1	$30	$15	$7	$10
2	$40	$20	$10	$15
3	$50	$25	$12	$20
4	$60	$30	$15	$25

If approved after civic engagement and public comment analysis, entrance fees would be raised to the Group 2 level in January, 2018. Fee revenues are a critical fund source for Devils Tower, with eighty percent of fee revenues staying in the monument for visitor services and projects. The other twenty percent of fee revenues are distributed to parks that do not collect fees.

Monument Annual Pass		Per Vehicle/7days		Per Person/7days		Per Motorcycle/7 days
Current	Proposed	Current	Proposed	Current	Proposed	Current	Proposed
$30	$40	$15	$20	$5	$10	$10	$15

The price will remain unchanged for the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass ($80). Military and Access Passes will remain free and may be obtained at the monument entrance.

"We understand that no one likes fee increases, but this fee revenue is critical in funding a wider variety of visitor services, facility improvement projects, and resource protection efforts.  We ask for public comment and support in taking this step in preserving a quality visitor experience at Devils Tower," said Superintendent Tim Reid.  Devils Tower National Monument is a strong economic engine for the surrounding area. In 2016, more than 498,000 park visitors contributed $39,646,100 in communities near the park and supported 500 jobs related to tourism.

A public meeting will be held Wednesday, August 2 in Hulett, WY at the Town Hall 401 Sager Street at 6-8 p.m. Devils Tower Room.  A second public meeting will be held Thursday, August 3 in Sundance, WY at the Crook County Courthouse Community Room (Basement Meeting Room) at 6-8 p.m.

Comments on the proposed fee increases can be submitted online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/deto, in person using a written comment card, by email e-mail us , or by mail at Devils Tower National Monument, P. O. Box 10, Devils Tower, WY  82714. Comments must be received or postmarked by midnight August 31, 2017 and may be made available to the public at any time. Comments will not be accepted by phone.

To learn more about Devils Tower National Monument visit www.nps.gov/deto  or www.facebook.com/Devils-Tower-National-Monument-Official-NPS-Site or twitter.com@DevilsTowerNM or Instagram at #devilstowernps.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov , on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/nationalparkservice, and You Tube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservce.

-NPS-

---