Some changes are coming to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The company Xanterra Parks and Resorts will run the park’s concessions, merchandise and parking services.
The National Park Service awarded a 10 year concession contract to Xanterra Parks and Resorts. Xanterra currently holds the food contract for the park. The new contract combines concessions and parking operations.
The new contract includes several changes, including reducing the parking rate from $11 to $10, offering half off for senior parking and free parking for active military.
Maureen McGee-Ballinger is the Park Public Information Officer. She says there have always been partnerships between the park and private companies.
“There is a whole line put out and companies are allowed to come in and take a look around before they made their bids. And then they submitted their bids based on what the park was looking for what it needed. We’ve always had private concessionaires operating those facilities. And they can have a for-profit business and then part of the fees that they take in come back to the park,” says McGee-Ballinger.
McGee-Ballinger says the details of the contract still need to be finalized. She says the changes at Rushmore will not officially start until October.