La Junta, CO - On Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, following guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and local public health authorities, Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site will be altering its operations in response to the recent upgrade to Level Red COVID-19 status for Otero County.
The park landscape, trails and restrooms will remain open to the public. The fort will remain open and the public will be able to view inside the rooms from the doorways, but access inside the rooms will be temporarily discontinued. The park’s movie will not be available but is available online. Living history fees will be by credit card only.
The park store operated by the Western National Parks Association will be open Fridays through Sundays. Online purchases can also be made through their website at https://store.wnpa.org/.
The health and safety of park visitors and staff is paramount, and the park staff’s operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. The staff continues to work closely with the U.S. Department of Public Health using guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.
The current “Safer at Home" guidance for the State of Colorado encourages Colorado residents to “limit activities to your immediate community, not travel more than 10 miles from your home to recreate or vacation and not travel to mountain areas."
Not yet ready to visit the park? Virtual tours of Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site can be viewed at https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/photosmultimedia/index.htm. Videos are also available on the park’s YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/user/bentsfortnps, and the park’s Junior Ranger page, https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/kidsyouth/self-guided-activity-book.htm, offers activities.
Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on the park website https://www.nps.gov/beol/index.htm and social media channels.
www.nps.gov
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Tags: covid-19
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
