PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Visitor Services Operated by the Kaibab Paiute Tribe

Snack Bar

As mentioned in Part XI, during the summer of 1979 the snack bar was open for only a few weeks. In 1980 the Tribe decided to have one of its members operate the business. It was in operation during the summers of 1980, 1981, and 1982 with no problems reported. No mention was made of the snack bar in the annual reports for 1983. It was closed the entire summer of 1984. No report on the status of the business was made in 1985. The snack bar was open again during the summer of 1986 and, for the first time, remained open until December 1. The same person ran the snack bar in 1987, but pulled out near the end of the year. This operator also ran the campground (see below). The snack bar remained vacant in 1988 and 1989. By the end of 1989, the Zion Natural History Association was making plans to operate it for the 1990 season. The ZNHA began serving its "frontier lunches" to visitors in August 1990.

Gift Shop

During the summers of 1980 and 1981, the gift shop was operated again by Doug Higgins. Some visitor complaints were received about the type of merchandise sold, mostly Mexican, including what one complainant described as "funny" looking onyx pipes (used for smoking marijuana). Probably at Herr's urging, Higgins began to upgrade his Native American crafts section in 1981. In 1982 Herr reported he was still carrying a large number of goods made in Mexico and Asia while also selling some authentic Native American wares. Higgins continued to run the shop for another two years then chose not to renew his lease after the 1984 travel season. The shop was closed during the 1986, 1987, and 1988 seasons. [2318] During those years, the ZNHA expressed growing interest in leasing the shop as its sales outlet. (Up to then, it operated out of the visitor center area.) In March 1988, ZNHA Executive Director Jamie Gentry made a proposal to the Kaibab Paiute Tribal Council that the association operate its sales outlet from the Tribe's gift shop space, offering $300 a month user fee. In the proposal, Gentry stated, "We do... feel that this project could open up a retail outlet for the hand crafts available from the Tribe." [2319] Approval was received from the Tribe for the arrangement. On August 2, 1988, the ZNHA began moving into the Tribe's gift shop space and soon after opened up for business. It proved to be a profitable move. Sales in 1989 increased over 400 percent from ZNHA sales of 1988, totaling $95,000 their first year in operation. [2320]

Campground

The Tribe's campground was in operation during the 1980s, but appears to have done little business. In late July 1979 it was reported, "The Tribe is doing nothing with the campground; it is overgrown with weeds.... Many visitors inquire about where they may camp." [2321] In 1984 Herr reported that the campground was open all year but that the Tribe kept no host at the site. Fees were collected at the tribal office building on the honor system. In 1986 the operator of the snack bar also ran the campground, but only until the end of the year.