US National Parks Closed

iltisman

Due to the Government shutdown in the US NBS reports that National parks and Museums are closed TFN.
This is a bit annoying and I now have to re-configure next weeks trip as I had planned to visit 3 NPs.

Moto2

I wouldn't change anything yet, wait till the end of the week

ShAnE

Meant to be going to Alcatraz on Friday, and Yosemite on Saturday. Fingers crossed they sort this out quickly.

businka

I wonder, if the NAtional park closed, could you still enter it and drive through? Like Death Valley is not even supposed to be opened officially till 15th October, but people were able to visit it through the summer, just no staff around.

jackieblack

businka wrote: »

I wonder, if the NAtional park closed, could you still enter it and drive through? Like Death Valley is not even supposed to be opened officially till 15th October, but people were able to visit it through the summer, just no staff around.

"National parks - from Yosemite to Alcatraz and the Statue of Liberty - will be shut down with 3,266 essential staff out of 24,645 remaining on duty. These will include some fire management, law enforcement and emergency responders.
Day-use visitors will be instructed to leave the park immediately and visitors using overnight facilities will be asked to make alternative arrangements and leave.
Where possible, park roads will be closed and access denied. "

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24302508

iltisman

I am not sure about Death Valley as it covers a large area and there are several businesses within the boundary.

jackieblack

Re Death Valley, have just read this
"Because of the federal government shutdown this National Park Service Facebook page is inactive.

Government Shutdown Update:
All roads other than Hwy 190 will be shutdown for an indefinite amount of time. Barricades will be in effect at the intersections of Hwy190 and the Badwater and Scotty's Castle roads. The gas pumps will not be working at Stovepipe Well, but all other facilities at SPW, FCR, and PSR will be open. The Death Valley Road Conditions and Death Valley National Park pages will also not be active. Sorry for the inconvenience. "

ailuro2

Similar announcements on the fb page of Yavapai lodge we are meant to be staying at in Grand Canyon park next week. Any monies paid will be automatically refunded.

Still got a week to go, here's hoping one of them blinks and it all gets sorted out! :mad:

loobs40

My stepdaughter and husband start their honemoon today. They have been planning for twelve months had booked trips to Alcatraz, Muir Woods, Pearl Harbour and Grand Canyon. They are gutted.

vivatifosi

It is also impacting Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex. The complex itself is open, but you can no longer take bus tours inside the government owned bits, eg to the launch pad, the vehicle assembly building, etc (which is the most fun). I think that this will also put the Saturn V center out of bounds.

KSC Visitor Complex is run by a private company, so continues to operate, but anyone who has been will know how big a part of the trip getting up close with the Saturn V and seeing the launch pad are. They are trying to compensate by laying on more at the same complex, but it won't be the same.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131001/NEWS01/131001019/Brevard-feels-effects-government-shutdown?nclick_check=1

ailuro2

For anyone who is leaving soon, like us, make sure you take methods of getting online and booking an alernative hotel. There will be free wifi in coffee shops, shopping malls etc. Make sure you still act like a good MSEer and get the best deal you can even though it's a last minute change of plan.

Still got my ingers crossed they get it sorted quickly.