Royal Gorge area businesses suffering after fire

Fremont County businesses are suffering because of the wildfire that devastated the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park.

The park and has been closed since the June fire destroyed all but four of its buildings. The bridge survived but isn’t expected to open until one-way traffic until the end of August.

Tourism council vice-chair Beth Katchmar says business at her pizza restaurant is down 30 to 40 percent. She says the scout troops that normally come to her pizza restaurant after earning their rafting badges never showed up.

Hotel manager Lloyd Harwood says lodging in the area is down about 50 percent.

Park spokeswoman Peggy Gair told the Canon City Daily Record that the park is turning away 200 cars each day.