It will cost a little more to tour the Delta-01 launch facility at Minuteman Missile NHS beginning in January/NPS

Higher Fees At Minuteman Missile NHS

Higher fees are coming your way for touring the Delta-O1 launch facility at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, the Mariposa Grove at Yosemite National Park is open for winter, and friends of Cuyahoga Valley National Park have raised millions for a new visitor center. Those are just some of the stories from around the National Park System.

At Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, the cost to tour the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility is going up to 12 per adult and $8 per youth (ages 6 to 16) on January 1. Staff say the higher fee will be accompanied with an increase in the tour duration to 45 minutes. This fee covers only the ranger-led tour at Delta-01; there is no entrance fee to visit the park.

The implementation of the tour fee increase follows a business review of the current fee structure in 2017 and public consultation this past summer. Tour revenue is kept by the park to use for deferred maintenance and preservation projects.

"We would like to thank all the members of the public who took time to express their thoughts and opinions over the past few months," Superintendent Eric Leonard said. "These fee dollars are being reinvested directly into preservation projects at the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility and the Delta-09 missile silo."

The 45-minute ranger-guided tour at Delta-01 begins with a walk through the grounds and topside support building. Visitors then descend via elevator 31 feet underground to the Launch Control Center to see the electronics used by missileers to control ten Minuteman II missiles. Built for nuclear war, the control center features a small elevator and a tight underground space. To protect the historic facilities and to provide for visitor safety, each tour is limited to six participants.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site's headquarters and visitor center is located off of exit 131, Interstate 90, near Philip, South Dakota. The park consists of three sites along a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 90.

Boston Store Visitor Center at Cuyahoga Valley National Park/NPS

Millions Raised For New Visitor Center At Cuyahoga Valley

More than 550 individuals, foundations, and corporations in the Cleveland/Akron metropolitan area of Ohio, the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park have raised $7 million for Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s new Boston Mill Visitor Center.

“Most new visitor centers in national parks exist because of philanthropic support and we are so pleased that our community sees the value of welcoming and orienting visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park," said Conservancy CEO Deb Yandala. "This center will be the first stop for many first-time visitors to northeastern Ohio and it is a testimony to the quality of our community that we successfully achieved this level of support.”

The history of Cuyahoga Valley National Park is rooted in the passionate support of local people. The community has stepped up once again to help create a one-stop resource where visitors can begin their exploration of CVNP and Ohio & Erie Canalway. The visitor center, located in the village of Boston, is set to open in fall 2019.

CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational and natural activities in one setting. 

Jenny Lake at Grand Teton National Park/NPS

Grand Teton Awarded Accessibility Achievement Award

Grand Teton National Park recently was recognized with the 2018 National Park Service Architectural Design Accessibility Achievement Award for superior accomplishments advancing park opportunities for persons with disabilities at Jenny Lake.

“We are very pleased to be recognized with this national award for the preservation and unencumbered access of the ionic landscape of Jenny Lake and the Teton Range," said Superintendent David Vela. "These improvements were constructed to endure multiple generations of all visitors.”

The Jenny Lake Renewal Project is a public-private partnership construction project that has restored one of Grand Teton National Park’s most iconic visitor destinations. Nearly 1.9 million people visit Jenny Lake each year, making this historic landmark the park’s most frequented visitor destination. The $18 million project has been funded by both the National Park Service ($4 million) and Grand Teton National Park Foundation ($14 million). This project’s purpose is to address deferred maintenance and accessibility at Jenny Lake.

The Jenny Lake visitor area is being completely rehabilitated to meet or exceed accessibility guidelines for National Park Service interpretive media, allowing an inclusive experience for all visitors. The new interpretive components in the plaza welcome, orient, and provide route-finding for visitors through tactile and interactive elements, allowing visitors of all ages and abilities to experience the compelling stories of the Jenny Lake area and the park.

The existing restroom in the South Jenny Lake developed area was upgraded to be Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards compliant by widening of the stalls and replacement of the fixtures. Universal access to the existing Jenny Lake Visitor Center, convenience store, and vault toilets were also provided.

The Jenny Lake path network, including overlooks and plazas, was designed and constructed to meet and exceed accessibility standards. The project also improved way-finding and alleviated congestion by realigning and widening paths, rebuilding non-conforming paths, and reducing the grades. The path system now clearly circulates and orients visitors to Jenny Lake with a series of unique overlooks, plazas, and access points at the lake’s edge.

Allowing full season water access to visitors with limited mobility is also an accomplishment. A paved accessible lakeshore and water access area dubbed Rock Beach was designed to receive water during periods of high lake levels (early to mid-summer) to allow those using wheelchairs to more fully experience the glacial lake by enabling them to roll their wheelchair into the lake water if they choose. Two access points were also included for shoreline access at lower lake levels during mid to late summer months.

Areas of existing shoreline erosion are now accessible lakeshore overlooks, enabling people with limited mobility a chance to enjoy the views of Grand Teton National Park. These overlooks curb the resource impacts, while offering all visitors a place to enjoy the natural beauty.

At two lakeshore overlooks, bronze-raised relief maps will allow a visually impaired person to “feel” the view that a visually unimpaired person sees. More than half of the interpretive exhibits in the Jenny Lake area include tactile elements that permit persons with visual impairments to have a rewarding interpretive experience. Labels on relief maps are also designed for the visually impaired.

Twenty-five accessible benches have been installed throughout the project to provide visitors with varying abilities a place to rest and comfortably enjoy the views as they move through the Jenny Lake area. A companion space was provided at each bench to allow those using wheelchairs a place to pause as well.

This project is unique in that accessibility improvements were fulfilled in a discreet manner, allowing preservation of the natural beauty of the area. By utilizing natural dry laid stone construction techniques and natural boulder retaining walls, the historical character of the site was preserved, allowing everyone a chance to enjoy Jenny Lake in a pristine state.

The Jenny Lake Renewal project is anticipated to be completed by this coming summer.

Yosemite's Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Open For Winter Visits

The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias at Yosemite National Park has moved to winter operations. The grove is now closed to automobiles for the winter. The Mariposa Grove Shuttle Service also has ended for the season. Visitors can use the South Entrance Parking Area and walk into the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

The visitor contact station and gift shop located in the Depot at Mariposa Grove will be open during the winter season, as weather and road conditions permit. During the month of December, the Depot will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Depot operations in January and February may vary depending upon weather and road conditions.

All roads within the park are subject to chain control or temporary closures due to hazardous driving conditions. All motorists should carry tire chains, even if their car is equipped with four-wheel drive. Tire chains may be required at any time based on conditions.

For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200.