Existing comment:
Park Enjoyment:
Mission 66:
Early travel to the park was difficult. Roads were dirt and often impassable due to deep sand and washouts. Park managers made road improvements one of their top priorities, but little happened until the 1950s when a ten-year plan to upgrade visitor facilities at in National Park Service areas was implemented. Called Mission 66, the program's goal was to increase visitation to NPS areas by accommodating the needs of an increasingly mobile society.
By early 1956, the new entrance road was under construction. Most of the trails that we enjoy today are the product of Mission 66. The road to Balanced Rock was completed in 1958 and extended to Devils Garden by 1964. The American Society of Landscape Architects selected the Arches entrance road as one of the three best roads of the Mission 66 program.
Visitor Services:
Mission 66 funding was not limited to road construction. To replace a leftover CCC building that had been used for years, a visitor center was constructed in 1959. It served the park for more than 40 years. The campground opened in 1964 and is still enjoyed by visitors.
Between 1955 and 1975, visitation to Arches increased 550%. After that, international visitors discovered Arches National Park and use steadily increased. What will Arches be like in 20 years? In 50 years? What does the future hold? Only time will tell. If park visitation continues to grow, park managers and park visitors will face new challenges. All of us must continue to plan for the future by looking for innovative solutions that not only protect the park's resources, but also preserve the experiences that we treasure during a visit to a national park. One thing is certain: we are all part of the future history of Arches. What will our legacy be? |