Devils Tower Visitation up in Fall After Coronavirus Closure

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — Tourists flocked to Wyoming's Devils Tower National Monument this fall despite the coronavirus.

The national monument closed in March because of the pandemic but reopened in May.

The Gillette News Record reports more than 113,000 people visited the park in August, some 13,000 more than in August, 2019.

September, October and November set visitation records. Overall, more than 420,000 people visited Devils Tower through November.

That was down by just 7% compared to the number of visitors during that period in 2019. Devils Tower KOA campground owner Ogden Driskill says many visitors were eager to get outside and away from cities.