CONTACT: Daniel Vandever, Public Information Officer
Phone: 928-810-8510
Email: dwvandever@gmail.com

Four Corners Monument reopens to welcome visitors from all over the world. (photos by Daniel Vandever)

Four Corners Monument open for operation

FOUR CORNERS – It’s taken almost seven months to complete, but as of August 6, 2010, the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department has opened its newly constructed Four Corners Monument for operation.

After receiving several delays in construction scheduling and several disappointed tourists, the monument opened in traditional fashion with a prayer from both a Navajo and a Ute medicine man to bless the new structure.

Once the blessing was done, the tourists flooded in.

Lisa Swift and her family, who were traveling from St. Louis, Missouri, arrived at the monument the day before, but were informed that it would not be opening for another day. Rather than heading home, they stayed to see the monument and they were glad they did.

“It’s so beautiful out here, and it was the number one thing the kids wanted to do,” explained Swift. “I’m glad we stayed because we got to get a picture with each kid in each state for our Christmas card.”

The opening was well received not only by tourists, but local vendors as well, many of who receive their income from sales generated from tourists visiting the monument. While under construction, the park was only open three days out of the week and caused about a 50% drop in revenue for vendors.

But with the completion of the structure, many of the locals are excited for what the monument will do for tourism.

“The main desire for everyone who comes to the park is to see the monument,” stated vendor Herb Thompson from Kirtland, New Mexico. “And sure with the construction we had our finances cut, but in order to get something nice you have to make sacrifices.”

“It’s looking up though.”

Another vendor was happy to see the opening of the monument, not only for the completion of the structure, but also for the completion of a dream.

Frank Austin of Cortez, Colorado was the initial designer of the monument, and from his design the monument was developed. The design, which was sketched on September 3, 2003, took seven years to go into fruition, but now that it’s complete Austin is excited with its possibilities.

“It’s cool that it happened because not only my grandkids will know that I designed it, but also the whole world. Maybe I’ll get to go on the Today Show,” joked Austin.

While the monument is now open to the public, construction will continue on the vendor booths in the Colorado and New Mexico part of the tribal park. The construction will be fenced away from the public, so access to the monument will not be affected. The construction is scheduled to be entirely complete by mid-September.

Starting on August 9, the park will be open seven days a week, from 7 am – 8 pm. Admission is $3.

For more information, please contact the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department at 928.871.6647 or visit our website at www.navajonationparks.org.

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