Visitation Dip At NER
The Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center reports about 3% fewer visitors during 2011 than the year before. Still, says Spokesperson Lori Iverson, 309,851 people came through the doors during the year. Iverson says the center was open 362 days during the year providing information about the Refuge, Bridger-Teton National Forest and the community in general. Additionally, she says, the visitor center last year was graced by 26 new permanent exhibits valued at nearly ¼-million dollars, replacing a collection of dated panels to introduce visitors to federal lands within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Grand Teton Association’s store located inside the visitor center meanwhile grossed nearly ¾-million dollars which was about a 6.5% decrease from 2010. This year, the National Elk Refuge celebrates its 100th anniversary which will likely elevate visitations to the visitor center and the refuge itself.
