The parks are very lucrative for surrounding towns, as can be seen from this report:

http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/docs/NPSSystemEstimates2010.pdf

Ideas for increasing revenues:

1. I agree with the concession suggestion - seems like a no brainer to me

2. The camp sites are far less expensive than commercial ones, but are far better placed for the most part. Also, many are rudimentary (no showers) and an upgrade to the facilities plus a price increase could help. The camp sites in Yosemite Valley are almost impossible to book.

3. Gas stations are another good idea.

4. Maybe a local sales tax to redeem some of the secondary revenues (see link above)

5. Paid guided tours/hikes

6. Charge for parking within the parks - trying to find parking in Yosemite or Yellowstone is a nightmare

:D

Your last two suggestions crosses the border....

"Peter?? Oh, he was borderline for a while.... Then he crossed the border.."
-EGON, Ghostbusters II

:D

..... into THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS territory..

Don't get me wrong. I whole-heartedly agree with the ideas... Sometimes distasteful things must be done to serve the greater good...

And I also agree that corporate sponsorship is a MUCH worse idea than your suggestions...

This pricing model already exists at the state level. Look into any state's university system, and you'll find a wide disparity between the tuition they charge in-state students and the prices they set for out-of-state students (from other American states and from foreign students alike).

Hunting Licenses... Tourist attractions.. There is a whole litany of places and concepts where locals pay less than "foreigners"... A bear hunting license for in state resident is like $50... For out state residence, it's like $300... If you are a Floridian, you pay $100 for an all day pass to Disney World.. If you are outside of Florida, it could be as much as $300-$400.. All of the Florida attractions cost much less for Florida residents than they do for out state people. In St Augustine, a city that depends a LOT on tourism (Nation's Oldest City, established 1565) the city let's residents do many of the attractions for free..

So there is ample precedent for charging foreigners more...

Michale

Here is why this story is important: The microbe Naegleria fowleri is typically found in bodies of warm freshwater, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs, and is usually found in the southeastern united states. Last year, in Louisiana, was the occurrence of the first case of infection through tap water.

Grand Teton is in Wyoming. Wyoming is in the American Northwest. It is usually too cool in that part of the country for the microbe to flourish, but this has been a hot, awful year in that part of the country - both Grand Teton & its neighbor, Yellowstone, are currently cursed with raging wildfires.

When you connect this all with the fact that July was the hottest recorded month in history, you can imagine a heretofore unforeseen side effect of climate change: rampant zombie amoeba.

So happy birthday, National Parks. I hope my Grand-nephews' and nieces' grandchildren will be able to see them (from the safety of sealed biosuits)...

A fun time was had by all...

Just listened to Clinton's speech in Reno. Direct and to the point..

https://www.c-span.org/video/?414348-1/hillary-clinton-campaigns-reno-nevada

Would this include the forty-seven-percenters or just those mooching foreigners?