SNP Visitors Statistics

Both the Page News and Courier and the H-burg television station have reported on the downward trend in visits to the Park, which received 1.09 million visitors last year. Annual attendance since 2004 has been:




2004 - 1.27m
2005 - 1.10m
2006 - 1.09m
2007 - 1.11m
2008 - 1.09m



(Photo is from the SNP site on www.NPS.gov)


Karen Beck-Herzog, a public affairs specialist at the Park, has been making the rounds to talk about this - she was recently at the Chamber in Luray, and she outlined a couple of new programs designed to bring more visitors. The PNC article also highlights that the use of campgrounds and interpretive displays has increased, despite the decline in visitors.



The economist in me wants to hypothesize that longer stays by campers, fewer day trips by visitors from further away, and other characteristics of this type of Park use means that fees will go up and services will be stretched to meet demand. On summer Sunday afternoons, it is already unpleasant in the Skyland parking lot due to garbage and litter, for example.



Mary and I buy an annual pass and I write about the Park often - we can see it from the cabin. It's a feature we treasure. But these articles bring to mind some concerns. Time to think about how to make a contribution to conserving the place, and making it better.