New comp plan in Yellowstone a first

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

By Ben Cannon

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-A new comprehensive plan for a lodging area in Yellowstone could set a precedent for the way the park manages infrastructure.

The plan limits any new development around the Tower-Roosevelt section in northeast Yellowstone. A campground and cluster of cabins, as well as opportunities in the summer for horseback riding and chuck wagon dinners, lure fewer visitors than many other Yellowstone areas, making it an attractive destination for poeple looking for a more rustic experience off the beaten path, according to park spokesman Al Nash.

“This is an effort for us to begin looking at some of the park’s developed areas and take a hard look at what makes each area unique,” Nash remarked.
Nash said the plan delineates a clear vision to preserve the character of the visitor node.

“It’s very rustic,” he said. “The rooms are very spartan. The facilities, limited. It’s more of a frontier experience.”

New building will have to meet new restrictions including height limits, and any new development must meet requirements for environmental compliance.
This is the first plan of its kind for Yellowstone or any national park, according to Nash.

“This, in its own way, is a groundbreaking effort and its one we will work to replicate in other areas of the park,” he said.

The Tower-Roosevelt area is notable for its role in the preservation of Yellowstone. In 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt camped in the area on his historic visit to the park.





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New comp plan in Yellowstone a first | Planet JH News Article: General News

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