Homolovi Re-Opening Set March 18

According to a 2009 study, the park, located just outside of Winslow, has a $3.5 million annual impact on Navajo County and creates approximately 44 full-time jobs when in operation.

The numbers for Homolovi include direct expenditures, indirect expenditures and what the study called “induced” expenditures. According to the study compiled by the Hospitality Research and Resource Center at Northern Arizona University, direct expenditures are those made by visitors to the park on items such as entrance fees, food, hotel rooms and souvenirs. Indirect expenditures include money spent to provide those services, such as purchases of cleaning supplies by hotels providing lodging for park visitors. Induced expenditures are those made by the third party, such as the cleaning supply vendor purchasing spray bottles in order to supply cleaning products to the hotel.

The number of jobs associated with the park also includes direct, indirect and induced jobs.

The study did not include expenditures made by visitors who live within 50 miles of the park.

“The spending of visitors with zip codes in the county or within 50 miles of the park was excluded since such visitors do not add new money to the local economy, a standard procedure used in economic impact studies,” the study summary noted.

At Homolovi, the study found that visitors contributed a total of $2.6 million directly to the economy and just under $900,000 indirectly, creating 35 direct jobs and nine indirect jobs. The average Homolovi visitor spent a total of $227 in the area while visiting the park, including admission fees, souvenirs, dining, fuel, snacks and lodging.

Homolovi was closed due to state budget cuts, a move that reduced state expenditures, but cost local businesses and governments.

Re-opening of the park is being funded by the Hopi Tribe. Arizona State Park officials note that the department will operate Homolovi, but the tribe will offset costs and participate in quarterly operation reviews.

“According to the agreement (between the state and the tribe), the park would be open and operated by State Parks for 12 months. There is an option to renew the agreement for two additional one-year periods,” the parks department notes. “The tribe will provide $175,000 to subsidize the park operations and the State Parks will retain fees. The park will be subject to quarterly reviews of its operation by the State Parks and the Hopi Tribe.”

Hopi Councilmember Cedric Kuwaninvaya of Sipaulovi explained that the tribe supports the re-opening of the park for the protection of the ruins and artifacts.

“Hopi became worried that once again, the pot hunters could start desecrating our ancient homelands,” he said. “Hopi began discussions with state park representatives, the City of Winslow and others to formulate a plan to keep the park open. Thus an agreement was developed and approved. As a result, we will protect and preserve our ancient homelands and share our cultural heritage.”

In recent years the Hopi Tribe has been trying to strike a balance between protecting ancient sites and retaining cultural traditions while still welcoming visitors and increasing revenue. In April 2010, the Moenkopi Legacy Inn opened on tribal lands, and officials have been promoting cultural tourism. A Hopi agricultural photo exhibit opened in January at the hotel and will continue through 2012.

Tribal officials and members will be participating in the re-opening celebration at Homolovi by offering lectures, pottery-firing demonstrations and storytelling. A traditional planting will also take place at the park in April, with the date to be announced, and tours of the Sunset Pioneer Cemetery will be offered at 1:30 p.m. each Saturday in April.

More information on the park and the re-opening celebration is available at www.azstateparks.com.