If you’re a senior hoping for a steal on unlimited visits up to Yellowstone and other national parks, don’t get too excited.
The National Park Service has set Aug. 28 as the date for a rate hike in senior citizen lifetime passes. Senior citizens who purchase a pass before that date can get it for $10.
After that date, the passes will increase to $80 per person.
Reports that NPS would be raising prices for senior lifetime passes prompted many online applications, creating a backlog of between 20,000 and 80,000 applications, according to officials.
Park service spokesman Tom Crosson said the price increase was mandated by Congress.
Crosson said there is a "huge" rollout involved, including new cards, re-keying cash registers and educating the workforce.
Information regarding this change is available from the National Park Service website here.