News Release

Fossil Butte National Monument Re-Opens Visitor Center

Date: June 19, 2020
Contact: Kim Acker, 3078008404

Kemmerer, WY – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Fossil Butte National Monument is increasing recreational access and services. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.
Beginning June 20, 2020, Fossil Butte will resume visitor services:  

• The Visitor Center will be open daily from 9am to 5am, with modified operations. Arrows will direct one-way movement through the exhibit areas, and only credit and debit cards will be accepted at the bookstore. No park video will be shown and there will be a 50-person limit inside the building. Visitors are asked to maintain social distancing, wear a mask, and wash their hands regularly.
• Ranger Programs will be offered throughout the day, weather permitting.

In addition, the following spaces continue to be available:   

• All monument roads and trails - this includes the unpaved portion of the scenic drive which connects to BLM land. Vehicles should take caution after heavy rains, and four-wheel drive is recommended.  

“We have been looking forward to re-opening the visitor center and welcoming everyone back,” says superintendent Angela Wetz. “However, we ask everyone to maintain their social distance, wear a mask, and wash their hands frequently so that we can reduce risk and stay open for visitors. We can only stay open if we can do so safely.”
The health and safety of visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. The National Park Service operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. Parks continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers. Openings may be subject to change.

The NPS encourages people who choose to visit park sites during this pandemic to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy.  

Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations.





Fossil Butte was set aside to protect diverse, abundant, and well-preserved fossils from the Eocene Epoch in the Green River Formation. It is also home to a high desert sagebrush ecosystem. For more information about Fossil Butte, visit www.nps.gov/fobu, call 307-877-4455, or follow #FossilButteNPS on social media. There is no charge to enter the monument.
www.nps.gov
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.