The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, once a toxic-waste site, is becoming a draw for recreation.
The wildlife refuge in Commerce City has welcomed about 25,000 visitors this year, according to officials. More than 2,000 visitors flocked to the refuge recently for an event commemorating National Wildlife Refuge Week, said park ranger Susan Drobinak.
Many had to wait in their cars to get into the event, which featured historical re-enactments with Buffalo Bill Cody, musical performances and nature exhibitions, she said.
The transformation is due to cleanup at the site, which was used to manufacture chemical weapons during World War II.
Recently, federal and state officials marked the end of all major environmental cleanup at the 15,000-acre wildlife refuge, now teeming with bison, prairie dogs, deer and burrowing owls.
The total cost of the cleanup, which is shared by the U.S. Army and Shell Oil Co., totaled $2.1 billion.
Sallie Hait of Denver made her first trek out to the area this month in hopes of seeing some cranes, ducks and other feathered creatures. The longtime resident admitted she stayed away in the past over concerns of contamination at the refuge.
“To see what they’re doing now with the cleanup, it’s really heartwarming,” Hait said. “I think it’s wonderful what they did. As long as the animals flourish and everything is clean, that’s the main thing for me.”
Officials recently broke ground on a new visitor center to help meet the growing interest and demand for services. The $7.4 million facility is expected to open in the spring, said Sherry James, visitor services manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the refuge.
Currently, the center averages between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors per year, James said. Once the new building opens, that number is expected to eventually climb to about 200,000 annual visits, she said.
Much of that has to do with the public’s intrigue with the site’s bison herd.
“Once we reintroduced the bison in 2007, it really boosted our visitation,” James said. “And it’s been growing steadily ever since.”
The open space area is now home to nearly 50 bison. Several calves have been born at the site this year, James said. The large, wooly creatures have made the refuge a “destination spot” in the metro area and beyond, according to park rangers.
Visitors from as far as Switzerland are making the trek to view them, she said.
