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Grand Teton National Park has completed a $13 million project for more space to prep and back trailers into the river, as well as pathways, benches, signage, and toilets that flush.
“A big component of the project for each landing site was new and modern educational displays to help educate people about the importance of the river and the incredible habitat it provides for the wildlife that call Grand-Teton home,” said Maddy Johnson, who works with Grand Teton National Park Foundation.
The nonprofit arm of the park, which raised over $8 million for the project, split the price tag with the National Park Service, which contributed the remainder. They celebrated the end of five years since the projects started, last week.
“We are really pleased with the results and have been getting great feedback from the community, both from the general public and river concessionaires,” Johnson said.
At the most popular access in Moose, work included new barriers that will prevent degradation of the riverbank. Before, river users used outdated facilities and infrastructure.
The project fundraising and construction coincided with the foundation’s higher-profile fundraising efforts, like the $37 million to buy the Kelly Parcel and $10 million for Taggart Lake Trail improvements.
Also, announced last week in a press release the park could see a big change that, unlike these improvements are more outside of its control.
The park is accepting applications for a 15-year concessions contract estimated to be worth $1 billion.
The park will not have representation on the team evaluating applications, according to reporting from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. And the current operator, the Grand Teton Lodge Company, which has held the permit since 1998 will likely reapply.
The business that’s awarded the contract will maintain and manage lodging, food, beverage, retail, and other recreation opportunities for an estimated 50 million visitors.
Applications are due in January and the contract starts a year later.
The operator will be expected to implement upgrades from maintenance on about 400 buildings, many that are historic like the Jackson Lake Lodge, as well as employee housing and fire protections.
