Park visitor experience
Enhancing the park visitor experience
Since its founding in 1938, Western National Parks has provided millions of dollars of support to its more than 70 partner parks and has served millions of visitors, enhancing their experience through its various products, programs, and services.
Here are some recent activities that national parks have offered with WNP’s support.
Upgrade a feature
WNP funded the installation of a Junior Ranger exhibit at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail visitor center.
WNP funded a 3D topographical map in the visitor center at Chiricahua National Monument, allowing visitors to better understand the land's unique geological and cultural history.
WNP updated and remodeled several park stores, including stores in the visitor centers of Channel Islands National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and Wupatki National Monument. These stores elevate the interpretive retail experience to ensure that visitors have a beautiful park visit from beginning to end.
WNP funded an upgrade of an 1860s/1870s cattle drive chuck wagon at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park. It’s been central to history-themed events at the park.
See the sun
We helped Timpanogos Cave National Monument buy a solar telescope so that visitors could have a hands-on experience while learning about the sun.
WNP funded a solar eclipse event at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, making is possible for hundreds of visitors and local community members to safely experience the rare occurrence astronomical phenomenon.
Accessibility in parks
WNP funded a beach walker and beach wheelchair for Padre Island National Seashore. These accessibility aids allow people of all abilities to enjoy the extensive, serene white sand beaches of this Texas coastal area, and participate in events such as the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle viewings.
Enhancing outdoor recreation
WNP supported Great Basin National Park’s purchase of snowshoes in multiple sizes, and snowshoe repairs. This outdoor equipment is used as part of the park’s free snowshoe loan program, allowing visitors of all ages to experience the winter stillness and serenity of this remote Nevada park.
WNP supported the youth birding program at Flagstaff Area National Monuments—Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Wupatki National Monument. This program featured monthly walks and talks by NPS rangers.
Audio Tours
Financial aid from WNP pays for On Cell, which hosts the cell-phone education audio tour for Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
Celebrating the railroad
WNP helped plan Golden Spike National Historical Park’s celebration of the 155th anniversary marking the completion of the first U.S. transcontinental railroad. We also developed special commemorative products for the three-day event.
Hiking challenge
Five Arizona partner parks used financial aid from WNP to produce 6,000 exclusive pins used as rewards for participants in the I Hike for Health campaign.
