Royal Gorge begins tourism campaign after fire

Tourism officials are hoping to get visitors back to the Royal Gorge area and its railroad and historic bridge after a wildfire last month.

The Fremont County Tourism Council agreed Tuesday to spend $10,000 in print and digital advertising and $27,000 on television and Internet. The Canon City Daily Record reports that tourism officials want to spread the message that the area is open for business.

The newspaper received the $10,000 for the ad campaign. Local television and media companies received the remainder of the advertising money.

The Royal Gorge Fire burned 5 square miles. The wildfire temporarily halted the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park was also impacted. The park’s suspension bridge 955 feet above the Arkansas River suffered some fire damage but it’s still up.