FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRAND CANYON WEST, ARIZ. – May 17, 2007 – The 14-mile stretch of unpaved Mojave County road leading to Grand Canyon West has been approved by the county for widening and temporary improvements until the road is paved. Improvements began on Wednesday, May 16 and will include the road being covered with four inches of gravel and treated with one of two sealants now being tested.
“The unpaved portion of Diamond Bar Road is undergoing temporary improvements, approved by Mojave County, to ease the difficulty of navigating Diamond Bar Road,” said Sheri Yellowhawk, CEO of Grand Canyon Resort Corporation. “The road will eventually be paved, but until then we are working in conjunction with Mojave County to make it easier for our visitors to drive to Grand Canyon West.”
The temporary road improvements to the unpaved county portion of Diamond Bar Road will reduce dust output, lessen travel time and provide a more car-friendly surface for automobiles of all sizes.
“We still encourage every driver to take note that Grand Canyon West is located in a remote wilderness region like much of the rural Southwest. As a general safety measure, all car travelers should familiarize themselves with the terrain and surroundings of the area before making the trip and should travel with a working spare tire kit and bottled water,” said Ms. Yellowhawk. Grand Canyon West is located in the western Grand Canyon corridor of Northern Arizona. The nearest major services are located 70 miles away in Kingman, Arizona.
Since the opening of the Grand Canyon Skywalk on March 28, 2007, Grand Canyon West has welcomed more than 50,000 visitors. Operational functions have been boosted to more than double to address the sudden growth and enhancements are being made daily to ensure the satisfaction of each visitor. Expansion of Grand Canyon West was started before the opening of the Grand Canyon Skywalk and continues to be ongoing.
Day visitors are not required to make advance reservations, however, advance reservations reduce wait times and allow visitors to pick up their tickets at Will Call when they arrive at Grand Canyon West. All visitors are encouraged to go to the website at www.destinationgrandcanyon.com
Grand Canyon West is located approximately 120 miles east of Las Vegas, Nev., and 72 miles northwest of Kingman, Ariz. Attractions available at Grand Canyon West include The Indian Village with authentic dwellings depicting multiple tribes, The Hualapai Market, and The Hualapai Ranch, a western town with horseback and wagon rides. Grand Canyon West is the only location throughout the entire Grand Canyon where visitors can access the river and water recreation activities at the bottom of the canyon via helicopter tours. In addition to boat tours on the river, Hummer tours are available along the rim of the canyon and through private areas that are otherwise inaccessible to the public. There are more than 30 tour and transportation companies that service Grand Canyon West from Las Vegas, Phoenix and Sedona by airplane, helicopter, coach, SUV, and Hummer. In addition, Park & Ride services are available from Dolan Springs, Ariz., a one-hour drive from Las Vegas. The Hualapai operate the only one day white water rafting trip through the Grand Canyon as well as a Lodge on Historic Route 66. To book reservations, view a complete list of activities or receive maps and directions, visitors may log on to www.destinationgrandcanyon.com or call 1(877) 716-WEST (9378). The Hualapai Tribe, consisting of approximately 2,000 Hualapai members, owns nearly one million acres of land throughout the Grand Canyon’s western rim. The capital of the Hualapai Reservation is Peach Springs, Ariz.
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