Devils Tower had more than 333K visitors this summer
GILLETTE (WNE) — Devils Tower has cooled off from its record-setting pace in the first five months of the year, but it still is putting up strong numbers, which is good for the surrounding communities.
According to a report released by the National Parks Service, in 2023, visitors to Devils Tower spent about $37.6 million in the neighboring communities and generated 492 jobs, creating $14.9 million in labor income and $48.9 million in economic output and adding $26.3 million in value.
In June, July and August, 333,031 people visited Devils Tower:
June: 108,892
July: 118,635
August: 105,504
Despite both the International Pathfinder Camporee and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally both taking place last month, the number of visitors actually dropped 1.2% compared to August 2023. Those 105,504 visitors spent 262,713 hours at the national monument.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Devils Tower had never gone three straight months with more than 100,000 visitors. But starting in 2021, it’s accomplished this feat for four straight summers now.
For the year, 416,821 people have come through the gates, close to 3% ahead of 2023.
This story was published on September 9, 2024.