CANON CITY, Colo.—Fremont County businesses say they’re suffering because of the wildfire that devastated the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park.
The popular tourist attraction has been closed since the June fire destroyed all but four of its buildings. The bridge survived but isn’t expected to open to one-way traffic until the end of August.
County tourism council vice-chair Beth Katchmar told members Tuesday that business at her pizza restaurant is down 30 to 40 percent.
“I usually get big troops, 30 to 50 scouts, coming in two or three times a week in July,” she said. “They come to get their rafting badge and then come eat pizza, and I had none.”
Council member Lloyd Harwood, manager of America’s Best Value Inn & Suites, said fellow managers have indicated that lodging in the area is down about 50 percent.
Tourism officials are spending $37,000 on a print and online ad campaign to lure back visitors to the area following the Royal Gorge Fire. It started June 11 and burned more than 3,000 acres, destroying 48 of the park’s 52 buildings.
Park spokeswoman Peggy Gair told the Canon City Daily Record () that the park is turning away 200 cars each day. Demolition work is about 85 percent complete and the park hopes to open the bridge one-way traffic at the end of August.
“We would like to start construction as soon as demolition in done,” she said. “We hope to begin in about a month,” she said.
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Information from: Canon City Daily Record,
