West Yellowstone is about visitation to Yellowstone Park," said David McCray, a West Yellowstone snowmobile business owner. "The only reason West Yellowstone is here is because of Yellowstone Park."
But this winter, it’s what’s isn’t running that has put this town once more in the national spotlight. 318 snowmobiles, less than half of the number of snowmobiles allowed in 2008, will be permitted to enter the park each day.
"When we had snowmobiling, people started to keep their businesses open. All the sudden, we a had a little more tax base," said McCray. "We were able to put a water system in through the years. At one time, we didn’t even have paved roads. It just started to make the town a real town."
Fewer snowmobiles means fewer jobs, fewer open businesses, and fewer reasons for travelers to visit the town during the winter.
"It’s changed business quite a bit," said Pierre Martineau, a snowmobile guide. "Everybody has had to downsize and try to adjust to the way we do things now. A lot of businesses that would have been open in the past aren’t."
"All of the sudden, we’re seeing the spiral again," said McCray. "It’s such small numbers that we’re dealing with. 160 snowmobiles per day, and that includes the guides, is such a drop in the bucket compared to any sustainable numbers of people for any type of business."
West Yellowstone depends on revved-up snowmobiles to run the winter economy, but for snowmobile advocates, there’s a bigger issue at stake.
"It’s for everybody to use," said McCray. "It’s become sort of elitist type park winter use. Independent scientists have looked at this issue, and they determined through the studies that 720 snowmobiles park wide significant impact on Yellowstone. That seems to be a number that most days you don’t have to turn away too many people."
So frustrated West Yellowstone residents will fight for their business, through lawsuits, through lobbyists, through anyway they can.
"What were dealing with now, and for a long time, is politics," said McCray.
"I think everybody is just trying to adjust and do the best they can," said Martineau.
Last month, a Yellowstone National Park spokesperson said this year’s plan was imposed to allow for public access, while a new long-term winter use plan was developed.
