Fort Payne, AL – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 201,000 visitors to Little River Canyon National Preserve in Fort Payne, Alabama in 2012 spent $10,822,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported 160 jobs in the local area.
“Little River Canyon National Monument is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Superintendent Gail Bishop. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides and to use the park as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and all that it offers. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy – returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service - and it’s a big factor in our local economy as well. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”
The U. S. Congress established Little River Canyon National Preserve in 1992 to preserve the outstanding scenery and to provide recreational opportunities. Entirely on the top of Lookout Mountain, the Little River drainage is geologically fascinating area because erosion has created a variety or rock expanses, bluffs, and the canyon that is one of the deepest east of the Mississippi River. According to Superintendent Bishop, “Little River Canyon’s combination of physical features and proximity to urban populations such as Birmingham, Atlanta, and Chattanooga continue to highlight its national importance. “
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber, and Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion. According to the report most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (