Report: Visitors to Wyoming National Monument Spent Over $1M

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A report says visitors to an obscure national monument in western Wyoming spent more than $1 million in nearby communities last year.

The National Park Service study finds spending by the more than 20,000 visitors to Fossil Butte National Monument helped support 13 jobs.

Fossil Butte is known for its well-preserved fossils of plants and animals from roughly 40 million years ago. Many fossils are on display in a visitor center.

Most visitor spending went toward lodging and food, followed by gas, admissions and fees, and souvenirs.

Fossil Butte is one of two national monuments in Wyoming. The other is Devils Tower, which attracted over $31 million in visitor spending last year.