Yellowstone Fund-Raising Plan Hits $1 Million Snag

An idea that was supposed to raise $6.7 million for Yellowstone National Park over three years overlooked a special national pass.

That oversight might take a $1 million bite out of expected revenues, park officials say.

At issue is an experimental fee program that went into effect last Friday at many national parks. The fee program was authorized by Congress and put into place at certain sites managed by the Interior Department.

But there is a problem with the $25 Golden Eagle pass, which is good for a year of admission to all national parks and certain other attractions across the nation.

Prices of Golden Eagle passes cannot be raised yet.

“The $6.7 million revenue estimate includes the assumption that the Golden Eagle would go to $50,” said Yellowstone spokeswoman Marsha Karle.

She said that because the price won’t be increased immediately, “that means we have to decrease our estimate by about $1 million.”

Earlier estimates predicted Yellowstone could generate $6.7 more in revenues from the new fees over a three-year period.

Entrance fees to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks have increased from $10 to $20 per vehicle. The cost of a two-park pass was raised from $15 to $40.

Under the experimental plan, the parks get to keep 80 percent of all revenue collected above the amount collected during the previous fiscal year. The remaining 20 percent will be deposited in a special account for use at National Park Service facilities not included in the program.

The National Park Service had hoped to raise the cost of the Golden Eagle pass from $25 to $50. But it can’t because the Golden Eagle is a multi-agency pass.

In addition to authorizing entry to all national parks, the Golden Eagle is good for admission to other facilities, including those of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Agriculture Department.

The Interior Department needs to reach agreements with the other federal agencies before a change in the Golden Eagle pass can be made.

“We just need another month or so to get this cleared up,” said David Barna, a National Park Service spokesman in Washington, D.C.

Barna added that people likely would buy the Golden Eagle pass during the first year before those prices increase.

Karle said she believes visitors will seek out the best deal. Rather than paying $40 for a yearlong two-park pass, people would rather buy the $25 Golden Eagle, she said.