12 Thursday, January 9, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
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Death Valley still a bargain with increased fees
DEATH VALLEY-Zabriskie Point jutting out from the rugged badlands of the
Funeral Mountains with winter clouds boiling over the Panamint range in the
background, photo by Patti Babcock
by Patti Babcock
Gazette staff
PAHRUMP-Death Valley has some of the most spec-
tacular views in the world. It remains a recreational bar-
gain even with
increased
fees. Ann
Holeso, Death
Valley Na-
tional Park
Public Infor-
mation Of-
ficer, says
park officials
do not think
the increased
fees will af-
fect the num-
ber of people
visiting Death
Valley, cur-
rently exceed-
ing one mil-
lion per year.
Fees,
which in some
cases have not
been adjusted in three decades, will increase in all the
national parks. Effective January 1, 1997, the fees in Death
Valley increased from $5 to $10 per vehicle regardless of
the number of occupants. Individual fees, for hikers and
00allstate
i
IWv Buy C'ar For ( ash
727-1000 0
ill ,
people on bikes, were raised from $3 to $5.
The annual DV Park pass, based on the calendar year,
remains at $20 and allows unlimited access to the park.
The Golden Eagle Passport, honored nationwide at all
national
parks, Bureau
of Land Man-
agement and
federal recre-
ational facili-
ties has
doubled from
$25 to $50 per
calendar
year.
Holeso
said there will
be no charge
for vehicles
traveling
through the
park on Cali-
fornia State
Highway 190
when the oc-
cupants do
not plan to
visit the park. She said through travelers are a minority as
most people coming into the park are there to see Death
Valley.
Visitors come from all over the world and from all
walks of life to visit the largest national park in the lower
48 states. The 3.4 million acre park has numerous hiking,
biking and horse riding trails. Still, the majority of visitors
choose to see the vast park by road travel.
Scotty's Castle is a popular man made attraction com-
plete with gift shop and shaded picnic area. However, it is
nature's art work that appeals to most visitors. Broad
vistas, rolling sand dunes, the pallet of multi-hued colors,
and the striking rock formations combine to provide an
awe- inspiring experience.
Dante's View, Artists' Point, Badwater, Devil's Golf
Course and Zabriskie's
Point each offer unique,
spectacular views and un-
excelled photo opportuni-
ties.
Visitors can rest and
relax at Furnace Creek, a
privately operated area
within the park. There are
restaurants, rooms, camp
grounds, a store/gift shop, a
post office and a museum.
Yes, Furnace Creek visitors
should pay the fee as they have
come to see Death Valley.
November through
April is the best time to visit
the park according to
Holeso. The busiest time is
during the 49er celebration
in early November and dur-
ing the holidays when many
families visit. Europeans are
undaunted by the heat and
visit even during the scorch-
ing summer heat. Holeso
says there is nothing com-
parable to Death Valley in
Europe where there is no
desert and not much heat. t
Each year more Americans
are also choosing to visit
during the summer.
Death Valley will ben-
efit directly from the $5 in-
crease in vehicle fees.
Holeso says 80% of the in-
crease will stay in the park
where it originates. The re-
maining 20% will be dis-
tributed throughout the park
system. Most of the money
will be used for restoration
and maintenance of
restroom and campground
facilities and other public
use areas.
"T
