Governor Polis, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) have announced that Colorado will fund operations to keep two visitor centers at Rocky Mountain National Park open during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“Rocky Mountain National Park visitor centers are very important to helping all visitors stay informed, stay safe, and enjoy nature. By taking this action, we are helping our local communities, and allowing visitors continued access into the park to enjoy the breathtaking vistas and activities Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer,” said Governor Polis.
National parks play a significant role in supporting rural economies in Colorado. According to the National Park Service, Rocky Mountain National Park received over 4.1 million visitors in 2023, generating an estimated economic output of $888.7 million. Visitor spending reached $568.5 million and supported 7,833 jobs. In 2024, visitation increased slightly to more than 4.15 million people.
Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of OEDIT, stated: “The tourism industry contributes $28.5 billion to Colorado’s economy and supports over 188,000 jobs across the state. Keeping Rocky Mountain National Park and these visitor centers open promotes a positive visitor experience, helps protect our state’s incredible public lands and supports a critical sector of our economy. We are proud to partner with the Governor and the DNR to make this possible.”
The funding arrangement will split costs between DNR and CTO—each covering half of the $3,200 daily expense—to keep Beaver Meadows and Kawuneeche Visitor Centers operational starting October 24 for at least seven days. If the shutdown continues beyond this period, the state may extend funding; if it ends sooner, unused funds will be refunded.
Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, said: “We appreciate the partnership with our regional National Park Service staff and all the local volunteer efforts to keep amenities in our national parks open, particularly Rocky Mountain National Park. National Parks are integral to the outdoor activities and beauty Colorado has to offer and the current shutdown has created uncertainty for park staff, visitors, and surrounding communities whose jobs and economies are closely tied to our national parks. We are hopeful the state’s contribution can provide some of the national park experience visitors expect until the Park is able to return to full operations.”
While all national parks in Colorado remain accessible during the shutdown, some services may be limited or unavailable.
This initiative is possible due to a 2023 Executive Order from Governor Polis directing DNR to collaborate with other agencies on plans for keeping national parks open during federal government closures.
