Tourists Spent $55M Near Mesa Verde National Park In 2015

Margaret Matthews/AP Photo
The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park in Cortez, Colo.
Photo: Mesa Verde National Park in Cortez (AP Photo)
The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park in Cortez, Colo.

A new report from the National Park Service shows that visitor spending also supported 814 jobs in the area.

Park Superintendent Cliff Spencer says national park tourism is a "significant driver" in the national economy and a "big factor" in the local economy.

The visitor spending report shows that the funds helped support nearly 7,000 jobs throughout Colorado and had a $667 million impact on the state economy. It also says park visitors in 2015 spent the most on lodging, followed by food and beverages, gas and oil, admissions and fees, and souvenirs and other expenses.