Utah National Parks to Reopen

What shutdown? Utah’s parks are open for business, or they will be by Saturday. The Beehive State has reached a deal with the U.S. Department of the Interior to reopen eight national parks for up to 10 days. Utah agreed to pay the National Park Service $1.67 million for access, the balance of which would be returned in the event that the shutdown ends sooner than that. “Utah’s national parks are the backbone of many rural economies, and hardworking Utahns are paying a heavy price for this shutdown,” Gov. Gary Herbert said. October is an especially busy season for the state’s parks; officials estimate a monthly profit of $100 million.