With unemployment and poverty rates high, the Hualapai Tribe of Arizona is hoping a new business venture will create opportunities for the future. The tribe is opening the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a $30 million structure that will give tourists a unique view of one of the nation's most popular natural monuments. Media attention has been heavy as the March 20 VIP opening and the March 28 public opening approaches. The tribe believes the venture will bring more tourists to the western side of the Grand Canyon. The more popular eastern side sees more than 4 million visitors a year while the reservation only gets about 180,000. Revenues from the Skywalk will be shared with a developer who has brought tourists to the reservation for more than a decade. Eventually, the tribe will completely own the business. Get the Story:
A cloud looms over the Grand Canyon Skywalk (USA Today 3/16)
Skywalk almost ready to run (In Business Las Vegas 3/16) Relevant Links:
Grand Canyon Skywalk - http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com
Grand Canyon West - http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/indexe.html
Grand Canyon - http://www.nps.gov/grca Related Stories:
Letter: Hualapai Tribe hypocritical on sacred (3/15)
Hualapai Tribe rolls out Grand Canyon Skywalk (3/8)
Hualapai Tribe prepares Grand Canyon Skywalk (3/7)
Astronauts to help tribe open Grand Canyon skywalk (02/15)
Opinion: Hualapai Tribe steals White Man's ideas (02/15)
Hualapai Tribe plans for Grand Canyon Skywalk (12/14)
Hualapai Tribe expects big boost in tourists (09/05)
Hualapai Tribe still working on Grand Canyon skywalk (8/1)
Hualapai Tribe sees interest in Grand Canyon skywalk (02/15)
Hualapai Tribe to challenge Grand Canyon plan (11/11)
Hualapai Tribe, National Park Service in dispute (10/13)
Hualapai Tribe to open Grand Canyon skywalk (08/23)
Hualapai Tribe plans skywalk over Grand Canyon (07/23)
Hualapai Tribe awarded $2M in federal grants (7/15)
