Business response to MRNP closures & sequester

David Graves, Northwest Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association wrote and Op Ed piece in the Eatonville, WA Dispatch:

David Graves Op Ed

David conflates the 2-day closure with the 5% budget sequestration that will close Ohanapecosh Visitor Center and reduce the time that Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh campgrounds will be open.  But of real interest is his statement:

"Recently, nearly 300 business leaders from across the country, including those communities surrounding Mt. Rainier National Park such as the City of Enumclaw, EverGreen Escapes, and the Tacoma Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau signed a letter to Congress and President Obama, expressing their concern over how the sequester will impact their business." 

Apparently they did not mention the public, nor is there any direct mention of the arbitrary 2-day closure decided months before the sequester or the liberalized policy of closing the park at the drop of a hat. Conflation seems to be an art form of the Park as well.

a new hours of operation sign at Copper Creek Inn today - closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays - I never known them to close before.

15 cars in RMI guide lot and a dozen at Whittakers..

I don't recall Copper Creek Inn closing in past years, but they have been closed Tues and Wed for at least a short while, and of course, open but empty on a number of occasions when the park closed peremptorily on other week days. I know Phil Freeman (owner) is not happy with the park.

BTW, Copper Creek is perhaps the 3rd largest employer in the area after Whittakers' and the lumber mill in Morton.  Of note, is that just a few years ago the coffee shop at Whittakers was open most of the time; now it is open occasionally and the parking lot is often empty, suggesting not too many people renting rooms.  The Wild Berry Restaurant, of course, is closed; it used to be popular a few years ago.  The Overlander has a closed sign.   I know at least one major landlord/vacation cabin owner is planning to sell and leave and at least two resorts and another restaurant are up for sale.  But it appears somebody may have purchased the Highlander Restaurant that was up for sale.

had a chat with Patty, late last week, and she still owned the Highlander then. Big shindig there next week (new banners outside today), though, so maybe something cut loose for her..

Is the Highlander still full of meth tweakers? Last time I was in there it was like a cross between the Star Wars bar and Ratso Rizzo lookalikes from Midnight Cowboy.

Is the Highlander still full of meth tweakers? Last time I was in there it was like a cross between the Star Wars bar and Ratso Rizzo lookalikes from Midnight Cowboy.

That's east Pierce County; one of the reasons why Pierce is the most Republican County west of the Cascade Crest.