New Facilities for Cedar Breaks

The Zion National Park Forever Project is excited to provide an update about the construction of the new Visitor Contact Station at Cedar Breaks National Monument. Of the

nearly $7M project, Zion Forever and its supporters provided $3.2M, making it the single largest donation from the foundation to date. With matching funds and grants from the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, and Iron County, the new Visitor Station is a reality.

“This building will give us a sense of place. It will help visitors orient to this landscape and realize its value as a National Monument” – Kathleen Gonder, Park Superintendent

With construction beginning in mid-June of this year, July saw the removal of the old fee booth and restroom buildings. Those facilities and the park store have been temporarily relocated into the park administration building. The old 1932 CCC cabin that had previously served as the park’s visitor center will remain and be re-purposed as a historic site.

This next-generation facility will provide a home base for night-sky learning. Certified as an IDA International Dark Sky Park, Cedar features one of the last remaining naturally occurring dark sky regions in the lower 48 states. It will also continue to serve as a prime location for Southern Utah University’s IIC intern program that connects passionate students to internship opportunities in public lands throughout Utah. The new indoor space will feature engaging exhibits, a space for ranger programs, and a park store.

Despite the ongoing construction, Cedar Breaks staff continues to provide a robust calendar of events and programs. The park hosted its annual wildflower festival, and this year’s blooms did not disappoint. Even though the official celebration is over, you can still head up and catch the remaining flowers that often continue to bloom into early August.

We will continue to keep you updated on this legacy project as it progresses. If you want to learn more about park initiatives that need your support, look for the links above and find a project that you can connect with.