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American Prairie reports record visitation in 2021, reservation system opens Feb. 26 – Daily Montanan

['Daily Montanan Staff', 'More From Author', '- February']

Date: 2022-02 

American Prairie recorded its busiest year ever in 2021, with more people visiting and staying overnight at its facilities than any other previous year.

Overnight reservations last year more than doubled compared to 2020. American Prairie offers three huts and two campgrounds and 1,401 reservations were recorded at those facilities in 2021. In comparison, there were 665 reservations recorded in 2020. A reservation is defined as a group reserving one unit of lodging (campsite, hut or cabin), and not a count of individual visitors. American Prairie’s Director of Public Access and Recreation Mike Kautz says each reservation had an average group size of four people.

According to American Prairie’s visitor use data, Montana residents account for the majority of visits to their lands and facilities. In 2021, more than 76% of the reservations for American Prairie’s hut system and more than half of reservations for the campgrounds came from state residents.

Kautz says while the ongoing pandemic has no doubt played a role in the surge in visitation the past three years, he anticipates interest by Montanans and out-of-staters alike will continue to grow as more people learn about the prairie and seek outdoor adventures in less crowded parts of Montana.

“There is no better way to experience the prairie than using our public facilities as basecamps for exploring this vast landscape,” said Kautz.

Interest in American Prairie is also expected to grow in 2022 with the recent opening of the National Discovery Center in downtown Lewistown. This new visitor facility will serve as a jumping off point for adventures and as an interactive educational center to teach visitors about the significance of Montana’s prairie ecosystem. The National Discovery Center is free to the public and features interactive exhibits, community meeting spaces, and the immersive Ken Burns American Heritage Theater.

Reservations for American Prairie’s 2022 visitation season will open to the general public on Feb. 26. Interested members of the public are invited to begin planning their upcoming trips to the prairie by visiting www.americanprairie.org/visit.

Kautz points out that online reservations are by no means a requirement to explore American Prairie’s properties.

“Dispersed tent camping on public lands and on our deeded lands is free of charge and anyone is welcome to enjoy it,” said Kautz. “However, we encourage all visitors to read the safety considerations on our website and prepare adequately whether they make reservations or rough it with dispersed camping.”

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