Importance of Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon & Yellowstone National Parks

Study Funded by National Park Service Departing Director Finds Significance and Influences on Nearby Communities

Buses laden with tourists from Germany, England, France, Canada, Belgium, Austria and elsewhere are heading up the mountain to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National parks. Most of them want to spend time and money at places such as Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite National park. They want to be intimate with one of the natural wonders of the world. The study found that the tourists who flocked to these local national wonders also pump money not only into Oakhurst, Three Rivers and Mariposa, but also into far-flung places such as Fresno, Clovis, Visalia and other surrounding business places. This study was commissioned amidst the proposed budget cuts in the millions of dollars this year. For sure, the National Park Service plays an important role in the economic vitality of many communities. Yosemite by itself pumps $371 million to nearby communities. For your information, it is ranked as no. 3 among national parks, monuments and historic parks. The study found that the Great Smoky Mountains National park in Tennessee and North Carolina and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona ranked first and second. It found Yellowstone comes in fourth place. The study gave examples of local businesses whose business depends largely on the park. Reimer's Candies in Three Rivers sells boxes of chocolates displayed in the front window showing a panoramic photograph of the High Sierra. Without Yosemite, this business would not exist for all these 57 years. Over the years, Oakhurst has become a major hub for art galleries. Many tourists buy paintings as souvenirs. Famous painters, artists have made Oakhurst their home in order to be close to their customers. From April to the beginning of the first snow fall, the mountain communities are abuzz with tourists who want to see the parks.