News Release

Pipe Spring Closing VC and Museum March 17

Date: March 23, 2020
Contact: Patrick Driscoll, 9286437105

UPDATE: EFFECTIVE MARCH 23, Winsor Castle will only be accessible from the outside, with open house courtyard tours being suspended for the time being due to a large increase in visitation that have made keeping the recommended minimum distance of 6 feet and no more than ten persons in the fort at any one time unsustainable to enforce. We have observed that weekend visitation demonstrated several individuals not following the CDC recommendations.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Pipe Spring is our number one priority. The CDC guidance for the COVID-19 pandemic includes social distancing and limiting capacity to closed spaces. The monument grounds will still be open for visitor enjoyment, including the exterior view of the fort. We remind visitors to give each other adequate spacing when visiting, wash hands, be considerate of others and in their use of the restroom facilities, and park in only designated parking areas. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website https://www.nps.gov/pisp/index.htm and social media channels.

We are closely monitoring COVID-19 with the federal, state, and local authorities. Outdoor spaces remain accessible to the public in accordance with the latest health guidance. The National Park Service (NPS) encourages people who choose to visit Pipe Spring during this pandemic to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees.

Fredonia, AZ – Pipe Spring National Monument, in response to guidance issued by the Center For Disease Control and the White House, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Effective March 17, for the health of park visitors, staff, and volunteers during this crucial period we will be shutting down our Visitor Center building and museum until further notice. The monument grounds itself currently remains open with Park Rangers and Volunteers still onsite and access to Winsor Castle available through open house viewing limited to no more than ten visitors at a time. The health and safety of people visiting and working at Pipe Spring is of the utmost importance to us, and we will make new adjustments as we get further guidance from the National Park Service Office of Public Health and the U.S. Public Health Service on the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. 

The NPS encourages people who choose to visit Pipe Spring 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.  

For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/coronavirus