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Letter: Utah’s leaders object to a reservation system for Zion. Perhaps they should’ve thought of that before toeing the party line.

(Erin Schaff | The New York Times) A line of cars waits to enter Zion National Park, Aug. 15, 2025. The staffing shortage has meant that there are fewer people available to collect fees at the parks that charge for admission — allowing visitors to enter without paying and leaving money on the table.

On Sept. 6, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that “Zion National Park is considering a reservation system. Utah leaders don’t want it.”

“We strongly urge you to reject this restrictive management tool and instead work with state and local officials to address challenges,” Utah’s congressional delegation wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in August.

The article went on to describe how Zion generated nearly a billion dollars for gateway communities and how a “timed entry plan” implemented at Arches had led to a loss of millions to local communities.

Why then, did Utah’s congressional delegation, including Sens. Lee and Curtis and my local representative, Blake Moore, unite to support the ridiculously named “Big Beautiful Bill” that gutted funding to all national parks?

Only one of many contradictions in the voting of these three leaders purporting to represent Utah’s best interests while, in fact, toeing the party line.

Melody Graulich, Wellsville

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