Posted on 03/14/2025 5:22:38 AM PDT by Red Badger
There will be no after hours at Devils Tower National Monument. The monument abruptly announced Tuesday that, starting Thursday, the monument is no longer open 24/7 and will only be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The change was announced on the Devils Tower Facebook page. The monument, usually open 24 hours a day, will be closed overnight.
The National Park Service (NPS) has not provided a reason for the sudden change, and Cowboy State Daily couldn’t reach anyone at Devils Tower National Monument for additional clarification. That includes more information about whether that includes camping at the nation’s first national monument.
Public response to the sudden change has not been favorable.
“This is stupidity at its highest level,” said state Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, whose family has lived at the base of the tower for generations. “Devils Tower has been open 24 hours a day, unstaffed, for 50 years. It’s been that way forever, and I think it’s absolutely ridiculous to do this.”
(Excerpt) Read more at cowboystatedaily.com ...
That’s what I said in post 8 my friend
The management of Devils Tower National Monument is overseen by the park superintendent. Division chiefs, responsible for specific areas of park management, report directly to the superintendent. Although the Tower is a small park with a small staff, we face many “big park” issues. As such, many of the park managers assume multiple roles and delegate some aspects of management to their subordinate park staff.
As a casual visitor, rarely would you interact with management-level park staff. However, their actions and decisions do influence your experience at the park. Some management decisions are instituted at a regional or national level, and the staff of Devils Tower work to implement those directives. Other decisions are made by the superintendent or other managers of the Tower. These laws and policies dictate not only how park staff work to protect your park, but regulate what visitors can or cannot do on park land.
Park management also plans long-term projects for park improvements. These include allocating the fee dollars we collect at Devils Tower National Monument.
https://home.nps.gov/deto/learn/management/index.htm
Doug Crossen is the current Superintendent of Devils Tower National Monument. He has worked in that capacity since October of 2022
NPS
https://home.nps.gov/deto/learn/management/index.htm
The laws and policies of Devils Tower National Monument are established through multiple entities. National policies are set by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 36, Chapter 1.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36#0
Park superintendents also determine site-specific regulations through a document known as the Superintendent’s Compendium.
https://home.nps.gov/deto/learn/management/compendium.htm
Park policies are derived from these two sources. Questions about park policies can be directed to the Chief Ranger at (307) 467-5283 x636.
Section 1.5 - Closures and Public Use Limits.
(a)(1) The following visiting hours and public use limits are established for all, or for the listed portions of the park, and the following closures are established for all, or a portion of the park, to all public use or to a certain use or activity:
Visiting Hours:
Except in the case of an emergency, or as required by law, park’s outdoor use areas shall remain open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Except in the case of an emergency, the Belle Fourche River Campground will be open 24 hours a day from approximately May 15th through October 15th.
Closed Encounters of the 5:00 p.m. Kind.
“this is Cheney Country”
Yep, I hadn’t thought of that
Yes, they even closed our Gulf Shores National Seashore Park that is nothing more than a parking lot by the beach.................
I know it, but that photo of the formation with the milkyway behind it really is pretty
You asked us “Or am I out in left field?”
I answered your question with my “nope (you are not out in left field)”
Sorry I wasn’t clear.
Before that movie, I had never heard of Devil’s Tower.
Ah got it. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
When in aviation maintenance Quality assurance we used to see this kind of thing occasionally by the production department.
We’d discover they weren’t following procedures correctly so instead of asking engineering for a workaround they’d just shut down the process and try to blame it in us......hard to believe people that are supposed to be leaders, own homes, have children and all the rest of it could be so immature. SMH
Whoever made this decision about the park needs to be made famous.
All of that are simply mushy nice sound bite excuses.
When Obama face a government shudown, Mount Pisgah actually had Park service people make sure no one could use the park. This resulted in more manpower expenditure than normal.
No it isn’t. Crook County voted almost 90% for Trump in the last election. This is some Leftist National Parks employee trying to punish them by closing their tourist attraction to camping.
It’s always the 10% that cause all the troubles..............
It’s always the 10% that cause all the troubles..............
The gate will be closed
“needs to be made famous.”
Lol…nice way to out it!
Malicious compliance.
They will be using Barrycades to close the roads. Will there be dead cows on the side of the road? Take two canaries with you when you go.)
As I recall, there are miles and miles of prairie dog holes along the roadside leading to the Devil’s Tower.
And President Trump needs to do it during one of his Oval Office press conferences.
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