This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
My husband and I left Utah today (Sept. 30). We had visited in our motor home for two weeks, spending money at restaurants, gas stations, and RV parks all across the greater Salt Lake City area, Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, Antelope Island State Park, and Vernal.
Last Friday, we arrived in Moab. Enjoyed a glorious weekend hiking in Arches. Wanted to visit Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point, too, then head on to Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Escalante, and Snow Canyon near St. George.
We would have spent even more money at restaurants, gas stations, and RV parks across the southern half of Utah.
But today, we left for home. The RV park we were in was almost empty when we left.
Why? Because all those national parks in southern Utah will be closed as of tomorrow. Nobody knows when they will reopen.
And why is that? Wish I knew. Wish I could ask Utah Sen. Mike Lee, who teamed up with Texas Sen. Cruz to lead the charge in shutting down the government.
I imagine the businesses in and around Utah's national parks will have a few hard questions for Sen. Lee. Even if I can't.
Martha Marks
Santa Fe, N.M.