The target date to begin opening additional park facilities at the Grand Canyon National Park is May 21, 2021.  Jan Balsom, a Senior Advisor at the Grand Canyon National Park, updated the Tusayan Town Council during the March meeting.

Balsom is optimistic the east entrance gate will be re-open this spring as vaccination efforts on the Navajo Nation and other Native American communities continue.

The Grand Canyon National park East Entrance and the highway leading to it, State Route 64, were closed last spring to assist the Navajo Nation in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Balsom said, “We are doing our best to keep up with the target date for opening facilities including visitors’ centers by May 21^st. We would really like to see all of this open by Memorial Day Weekend.”

She added that coordination with Indian communities is important and she is optimistic that the Park can reach its target date.

Tusayan Mayor Clarinda Vail offered the Town’s assistance in any re-opening efforts. Balsom said the Park should be OK as additional staff will be arriving in April which means some commercial facilities will start to open in April.

Mayor Vail points out that the Grand Canyon National Park has been open to visitors for months and that Tusayan is indeed open for business.