LANDER - The slow start to the summer tourism season is evidenced in the latest visitation statistics at two of Wyoming's major destinations-Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

According to the National Park Service, through the month of June, Yellowstone's total visitation was off by 4.7 percent with just over 1.1 million through the gates. At Grand Teton, both traffic counts and visitation numbers trailed last year at this time, by about 3 percent. Through June, recreational visitors numbered just over 800,000 while non-recreational visitors totaled just over 656,000, for a total of about 1.4 million, down 100,000 from last year.

Putting the numbers in perspective was deputy state tourism director Alan Dubberly in Cheyenne. "Remember that 2007 was a banner year for us, and even though some business is a bit softer early this summer, especially with some of our smaller operators, I think we'll be OK by the end of the season," he said.

Though anecdotal reports indicated visitor numbers picked up during July, especially around Independence Day, during the last week of the month ample parking spots were available in mid-afternoon in front of the historic Old Faithful Inn and at the park's most-visited thermal areas and scenic attractions. Camping spots were also still available at most of the park's campgrounds. At Grand Teton, only Jenny Lake campground was full late in the day on July 27.

"We visited Wyoming three years ago and booked a week at a cabin near Lander, but this year, with the costs of gasoline and all, we decided to go camping most of the time and visit more of the state," said Mary Richardson of Burbank, Calif., during a visit to the state's northwest corner with her husband and three children. "We just love Lander, so we spent four nights there - one night in a motel and three nights camping at Sinks Canyon State Park where my husband went fishing. Then we went swimming at Thermopolis and camped two nights at Cody before hitting the park and starting our drive home," she said.

Richardson said the family stocked up on groceries in Lander, rather than spend money for eating out in restaurants.



Closer to home

The Richardson family's experience mirrors what state park officials reported this past month. The new director of the state park system, Dominec Bravo, said visitation was up across the entire state system in July, compared with May and June when unseasonably wet weather reduced normal visitation by single digits.

"We're also seeing state residents staying closer to home and using their local parks more for weekend getaways, according to the reports I've heard from our park superintendents," he said.

Bravo added that visitation numbers were especially high at day-use parks, such as Edness Kimball Wilkins near Casper and at Sinks Canyon, two parks that offer multiple recreational opportunities.

Up in Yellowstone National Park, Xanterra Parks and Resorts General Manager Jim McCaleb said he is "quite pleased" with the summer season so far, even though traffic counts are down.

"Our lodging is holding, our room sales are doing well, but we are seeing some softening in retail sales, including food and beverage," McCaleb said in late July. "I'm guessing our visitors are paying a few more pennies for gasoline and a few less pennies on souvenirs. Considering what kind of a year it could have been, we're pleased with where we are."

McCaleb said he watches the day-use statistics more than visitation statistics, "because it is the best indicator of business." He said Xanterra's receipts are off a little from last year, but he noted that 2007 was a record year.

"Generally, I'm pleased with where we are and, just like everyone else, we're dealing with increased energy costs. We are so transportation-dependent here, our fuel costs have increased dramatically."

One area where McCaleb said he has noticed an apparent increase in is the number of international guests visiting Yellowstone. "We don't have any numbers, but it sure seems we have many more Asians visiting this year than in years past. I think visitation from Europe and Asia is definitely up."

Meanwhile back in Lander, Blue Spruce Inn Bed and Breakfast owner Marvin Brown, who said in June that he was having a good summer, noted the number of room nights booked at his property set an all-time record in July.

"It has been a funny summer, we've had lots of cancellations, but then lots of last-minute calls filling up those rooms," he said. "And we're not seeing that many families this year, but a lot of single people are traveling and staying with us, so while our room count is up, the size of the average party is down."