Seven Falls Set to Reopen

BusinessPueblo Chieftain 08/01/2015 Copy Reduced to 91% from original to fit letter page

COURTESY PHOTO/ECHO CANYON Rafters dig in as they hit a wave earlier this summer in the Arkansas River. TOURISM Feeling the rush Visitor numbers rebound strongly for Royal Gorge, rafting BY TRACY HARMON forced the tourist attraction to the new park is pre-fire levels and above in general is up and that THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN tion to lose nearly two very positive and people so we are on track to means confidence in full summers of income like the new look, new take 25,000 people raft- the dollar. Gas prices CANON CITY — while demolition and feel, new rides. We are ing this year,” said Andy are holding steady and Royal Gorge area tour- rebuilding took place. receiving a lot of com- Neinas, Echo Canyon warm weather is help- ism is rising out of the This summer, visi- pliments.” owner. ing.” ashes thanks to the full tors are flocking back in During the summer That would mean At the Royal Gorge, reopening of Canon greater numbers than of the fire, Canon City- a healthy 25 percent “We have had over City’s number one tour- before the fire. based Echo Canyon increase above 2013 and 90,000 people for July. It ist attraction and some “We currently are River Expeditions and about 14 percent above is a blockbuster month,” good water levels for 20 percent over 2012, other local rafting com- 2014, which is great Bandera said. “It has rafting on the Arkansas which was the last year panies also felt the heat, news for the business. been a very strong tour- River. we were able to operate losing business. “We are very happy ism season and I think A June 2013 wildfire for a full summer,” said “We had roughly with our summer. we will be up (in visitor destroyed 90 percent of Mike Bandera, Royal 20,000 rafters the year We are really having numbers) by 25 percent the Royal Gorge Bridge Gorge Bridge general of the fire and 22,000 a fantastic summer,” & Park amenities and manager. “The recep- last year. We are back to Neinas said. “Tourism SEE RUSH, 2C Copyright © 2015 The Pueblo Chieftain, Pueblo, CO. 08/01/2015 Seven FallsAugust 3, 2015 9:11 am (GMTset +6:00) / Powered to by TECNAVIA reopen Pueblo Chieftain 08/01/2015

RUSH/from page 1C ______by the end of the year.” Buena Vista will bring more visi- Neinas said there is speculation tors, he said. the tourist season will remain “As outﬁtters let people know strong a bit later than usual Browns Canyon is out there, thanks to school calendars. and the uniqueness of the en- “While Colorado Springs vironment, I think momentum schools go back Aug. 18, some of will continue to build. Every our major markets like the Den- Coloradan should be pleased and ver, Dallas and Houston schools proud that this piece of Colorado are a little later than normal with received this designation,” Neinas an Aug. 24 start due to the fact said. that Labor Day isn’t until Sept. 7. From an economic standpoint, That will mean more families on more visitors means more sales the road in August,” Neinas said. tax revenues. Canon City Council Neinas said he believes the members have been told sales tax region’s tourism has a lot going revenues are on the upswing. for it in addition to rafting. The June receipts totaled $517,000, Arkansas River being named the up from $493,000 last June and longest contiguous Gold Medal year to date sales tax revenues ﬁshery in the state and the recent are up a total of 7 percent, ac- Browns Canyon National Monu- cording to City Administrator ment designation for a swath of Doug Dotson. public lands between Salida and [email protected]