Devils Tower Closure Highlights Government Overreach and Outrage
Submitted by MAGA Student
Posted 6 days ago
**Outrage Over Closure of Devils Tower Reveals Bureaucratic Overreach**
In a stunning move that has riled local leaders and residents, the National Park Service (NPS) has announced the closure of Devils Tower National Monument after hours, limiting access from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
This decision has been met with immediate backlash, particularly from state Senator Ogden Driskill, a Republican, who criticized the abrupt change as “stupidity at its highest level.”
Driskill, an advocate for preserving local access to the iconic site, noted, “Devils Tower has been open 24 hours a day, unstaffed, for 50 years. It’s absolutely ridiculous to do this.”
Residents and business owners are alarmed by the implications of this closure. Many tourists, on their way to popular destinations like Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, might forgo a visit to the landmark if they cannot arrive before 5 p.m.
Local businesses, especially the Devils Tower Lodge, could face significant losses as visitors will no longer have the flexibility to explore the monument during evening hours.
Reports suggest that the NPS offered no justification for this sudden change, leaving many to speculate about the motivations behind it. Concerns about staff shortages and the efficiency of the Department of Government Efficiency, now led by Elon Musk, have circulated without confirmation.
Driskill emphasized that if staffing truly were an issue, it was unfounded reasoning since the monument has historically been unstaffed during nighttime hours. “There’s no possible reason why they have to change it from what it has been,” he stated.
The local community, particularly those who utilize the monument for ranching and recreational purposes, fear that this decision reflects a broader trend of increasing inaccessibility across the National Park Service.
Photographer Laura Redmond lamented the loss of access to a unique night sky at Devils Tower, stating, “They have taken that opportunity away, altogether for everyone.”
Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior Rob Wallace commented on the issue, pointing out that residents of Wyoming traditionally do not see such bureaucratic hurdles.
Continued demands to keep the monument accessible are expected as Driskill plans to lobby Wyoming’s congressional delegation for a review of this decision, advocating for the rights of locals to access the monument that has been a part of their lives for generations.
As the summer season approaches and visitors begin their pilgrimage to the famous site, the community grapples with the notion that a long-standing tradition of open access could be curtailed by bureaucratic overreach.
Families, photographers, and local ranchers alike hope for a swift reversal of this decision, eager to preserve their cherished relationship with one of America’s treasured national monuments.
Sources:
breitbart.com
theguardian.com
cowboystatedaily.com
In a stunning move that has riled local leaders and residents, the National Park Service (NPS) has announced the closure of Devils Tower National Monument after hours, limiting access from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
This decision has been met with immediate backlash, particularly from state Senator Ogden Driskill, a Republican, who criticized the abrupt change as “stupidity at its highest level.”
Driskill, an advocate for preserving local access to the iconic site, noted, “Devils Tower has been open 24 hours a day, unstaffed, for 50 years. It’s absolutely ridiculous to do this.”
Residents and business owners are alarmed by the implications of this closure. Many tourists, on their way to popular destinations like Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, might forgo a visit to the landmark if they cannot arrive before 5 p.m.
Local businesses, especially the Devils Tower Lodge, could face significant losses as visitors will no longer have the flexibility to explore the monument during evening hours.
Reports suggest that the NPS offered no justification for this sudden change, leaving many to speculate about the motivations behind it. Concerns about staff shortages and the efficiency of the Department of Government Efficiency, now led by Elon Musk, have circulated without confirmation.
Driskill emphasized that if staffing truly were an issue, it was unfounded reasoning since the monument has historically been unstaffed during nighttime hours. “There’s no possible reason why they have to change it from what it has been,” he stated.
The local community, particularly those who utilize the monument for ranching and recreational purposes, fear that this decision reflects a broader trend of increasing inaccessibility across the National Park Service.
Photographer Laura Redmond lamented the loss of access to a unique night sky at Devils Tower, stating, “They have taken that opportunity away, altogether for everyone.”
Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior Rob Wallace commented on the issue, pointing out that residents of Wyoming traditionally do not see such bureaucratic hurdles.
Continued demands to keep the monument accessible are expected as Driskill plans to lobby Wyoming’s congressional delegation for a review of this decision, advocating for the rights of locals to access the monument that has been a part of their lives for generations.
As the summer season approaches and visitors begin their pilgrimage to the famous site, the community grapples with the notion that a long-standing tradition of open access could be curtailed by bureaucratic overreach.
Families, photographers, and local ranchers alike hope for a swift reversal of this decision, eager to preserve their cherished relationship with one of America’s treasured national monuments.
Sources:
breitbart.com
theguardian.com
cowboystatedaily.com
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