The Payson Roundup / Tonto Natural Bridge State Park will be open five days a week

Archive for Tuesday, October 27, 2009

October 27, 2009

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park will begin a five days a week schedule, instead of the current three days, beginning Nov. 15.

The historic lodge at the park has been under structural repair since Feb. 26, and the entire park was closed until the Town of Payson stepped forward on May 22 to fund part-time positions necessary to keep the park open at least on weekends throughout the summer and now until Nov. 15.

Beginning Nov. 19, the park will transition to a five-day-per-week schedule and will be open Thursdays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The lodge will remain closed due to additional internal construction projects. The park was a big draw for the Rim Country, attracting nearly 100,000 visitors before state budget cuts forced closure of the park early this year. The park has been an important economic driver for the Rim Country as spending by visitors pumped more than $3.6 million into the local economy.