Royal Gorge returning to its glory days before 2013 fire

It has been two years since a wildfire devastated the Royal Gorge. The fire burned thousands of acres and it forced the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park to close. Two years later, the area is recovering and people are starting to come back to the attraction and the businesses that surround it.

John Saxton, who owns a business near the Royal Gorge, said the memories of the fire are something he wants to forget.

“I remember sitting out here in the parking lot and watching the fire happen. It was just a little puff of smoke at first. A couple hours later the whole park was gone and it was just a very sad day,” he said.

The park reopened in May. Royal Gorge Bridge and Park General Manager Mike Bandera said park attendance went up more than 12 percent from this point last year.

He said park repairs cost $30 million.

Saxton said business went up more than 50 percent for him from this point last year.

John McPherson, who is visiting from Texas, originally wanted to bring his family to the park in 2013, but couldn’t because of the fire. Two years later he is enjoying the park with his wife and grandchild.

“It’s impressive, my wife noticed walking up that this is different, it’s all new and modern,” he said.

Bandera said the bridge and park should be finished completely by early 2017.