State and local agencies work to fill federal holes in Jackson
The town of Jackson and the state of Wyoming are implementing contingency plans to deal with the federal government shutdown. State and local agencies hope to protect the region’s winter season.
The Home Ranch Welcome Center, 210 N. Cache St., will temporarily operate as a regional visitor’s center. Chamber of Commerce agents will staff the office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Chamber of Commerce office, 260 W. Broadway, will operate through the weekend and answer phones from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Chamber phone number is 307-733-3316.
Although access is expected to continue, no services are expected at Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks.
At the National Elk Refuge, sleigh ride tours will continue as scheduled. Sleigh riders many park at the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, two blocks north of the Home Ranch Center, and walk to a temporary sleigh ride ticket sales location. You can find more information here.
Federal sites, parks, and landmakrs throughout Wyoming will be closed until the budget issue is resolved.
In-park lodging, operated by Yellowstone National Park Lodges, including Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, will remain open. In-park restaurants and gift shops will open as scheduled. Tours and activities may be modified based on road and weather conditions.
You can find latest information here.
Grand Teton National Park entrance gates will be open, but not staffed with limited-to-no visitor services available. Highway 89 will be plowed. The Grand Teton National Park Foundation will continue grooming the park’s Teton Park Road for ski access.
Park roads that are normally open during the winter will remain open if they are essential for emergency response involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. Access to all residences will be maintained.
National park websites and social media will not be maintained. Emergency response will be available through the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Teton County will continue to answer emergency calls outside those hours.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Devils Tower National Monument, Fossil Butte National Monument, and Fort Laramie National Historic site are all closed and access is limited in some cases.
Access is not restricted on U.S. Forest Service land, but services will be unavailable.
Togwotee Pass remains open. Many of the groomed trails are on state lands.
Wyoming State Parks remain open and unaffected. You can find more information here.
Skiing and snowboarding is still available at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee, Snow King, and White Pine Ski areas.
The Star Valley Scenic Byway remains open.
