'Opportunities galore' at Utah's state parks for displaced visitors

'Opportunities galore' at Utah's state parks for displaced visitors

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SALT LAKE CITY — The national parks in Utah may be closed during the shutdown, but Utah's 43 state parks are open and running, and they are experiencing a boom this week. Visitors from around the country and world are going there while the national parks remain closed.

Utah's state parks, many really close to the national parks in southern, eastern and southeastern parts of the state, but in the past, most visitors have just driven past them to get to the national parks. Now they are visiting in large droves. State Parks and Recreation Director Fred Hayes says many are from out of the country.

"It's been really fun to read the visitor comments, like, 'Thank you, you saved our vacation,'" Hayes said.

Hayes says Dead Horse State Park had hundreds more cars this week and Snow Canyon State Park visitation is up 50 percent. He believes it will continue as word spreads of Utah's offerings, even after the shutdown ends.

"I just hope that we will continue to see than just spending four or five days at the national parks then going home," Hayes said. "There are opportunities galore."

Some tour bus operators haven't even considered state parks before, Hayes says, but they had such good experiences this week they will come back.

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Mary Richards

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