Yellowstone National Park reported Wednesday it hosted 582,211 recreation visits in August, a 37% decrease from August last year, which had 921,844 recreational visits — a record for the month. It’s also a 29% decrease from August, 2019, the last year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The park has had a rough year. On June 13, all entrances to Yellowstone National Park closed due to historic flooding. Park visitors were evacuated over the next 24 hours and national news teams quickly jumped on the story. 

After the flood, Angela Coe, co-owner of Pahaska Tepee near the park’s East Entrance, said a stack of cancellations was building and she worried the season could be a bust. But her bigger worry at the time was national news coverage of the flooding.

“CNN and FOX and all of those stations are crucifying us,” she said as she stood at the register in her well-stocked, but shopper-less store the day after the flood. “Now people are trying to cancel for July and August already.”

Increases in fuel prices also has changed some summer travel plans with many choosing to stay closer to home this past season.

On June 22, the East, South and West entrances to the park reopened on a limited entry basis. By July 2, entry restrictions on the East, South and West entrances were removed, but the North and Northeast  entrances remained closed to visitor vehicles and will stay closed until at least Oct. 15, when park officials hope to have temporary fixes finished before winter weather limits construction.

So far in 2022, the park has hosted 2,446,982 recreation visits, down 32% from 2021 at the same time. It’s also down significantly since 2017, park statistics show. Visits through August in 2021 were the highest in recent years, with 3,590,609 visits.

In 2020, when the park had to close to prepare for pandemic mitigation efforts, there were 2,556,528 visits. The park was closed March 24 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened on June 1.