Chiricahua, the ‘Wonderland of Rocks,’ is now a national park. What does the new status mean for tourism, visitors and conservation?

Chiricahua National Monument in southern Arizona became the state’s fourth national park and the nation’s 64th on Tuesday, October 20, when the Trump administration signed bipartisan legislation changing its designation from a national monument.

With the announcement, the Chiricahua National Park, which is located in Cochise County, near Wilcox, joins the Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, and Saguaro National Park.

“Chiricahua protects thousands of years of history and incredibly unique geology, where visitors can explore trails through rock pinnacles and experience some of the best birdwatching in the world,” Christina Hazard, the legislative director at the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), said in a media release.


“From Chiricahua National Park to Coronado National Memorial, the National Park Service stewards these rare Sky Island ecosystems that are unlike any other landscape in the country,” She added.

‘Wonderland of Rocks’ for the unique rock formations

The roughly 12,000-acre park in Cochise County was originally added to the National Park System through the Antiquities Act in 1924. Known as the “Wonderland of Rocks” for its unique rock formations and volcanic stone pinnacles it protects, Chiricahua is one of Arizona’s Sky Islands, a series of mountain ranges that protect rare ecosystems, plants, and animals found nowhere else.

The Sky Islands also include national park sites, Coronado National Memorial, and Fort Bowie National Historic Site.

What does the national park status mean for Chiricahua?

The 30th US President, Calvin Coolidge, made the site a national monument back in 1924 with the Antiquities Act. With the new title, local leaders expect it will draw more visitors, where currently 70,000 people visit here in a year. As per National Park Service data, the majority of its visitors come there in March and April.

“More visitors can mean more customers for our hotels, restaurants, and small businesses and more economic growth for our community,” said Greg Hancock, Mayor of Willcox, Arizona, in a October 1 statement.

Hancock, who testified before Congress last year in support of the designation, said that when the transition from monument to national park status occurred, visitation saw about a 20 percent increase. “For a small city like Willcox, that could mean dozens or even hundreds of additional visitors each day,” ABC15 Arizona quoted.

The park’s boundaries stay the same. The law protects tribal access for traditional ceremonies on land that was once home to the Chiricahua Apache.

“The unique landscape of Chiricahua National Park will unite people from around the world while opening economic and tourism opportunities for Arizona,” said Senator Gallego in a statement.

NPCA director has brought up the issue of getting sufficient workforce and funding, which only faced deep cuts under Trump’s tenure.

“Keeping these places well cared for means America’s newest National Park needs restored staffing and funding, and we will continue to work with Congress to make sure Chiricahua can remain protected for generations to experience” Hazard said.

However, as reported by ktar news the National Park Service officials have declined to comment on whether they will add staff to handle more visitors.