In February 1964, the NPS purchased Cedar Pass Lodge, together with 72 acres of the surrounding land, for $275,000 from the Millard family. The lodge is now being run on a contract basis by a concessioner.[272]
Increased travel to the area during the years of Mission 66 fully justified the expanded development program of the national monument. From 1956 to 1966 the number of visitors increased 65 percent (see Appendix A).
Because of this great increase in travel, the summer visitor may find some of the scenic-overlook parking areas full, the visitor center crowded, and the nightly campground amphitheater program with “standing room only.” Since increased visitor use is practically assured in the foreseeable future, plans are already being made to provide additional facilities for visitors to Badlands National Monument.
APPENDIX A ANNUAL NUMBER OF VISITS TO BADLANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT[273]
Year Total Visits Percent increase or decrease over previous year
1938[a] 175,000 1939 205,100 17.2 1940 190,243 -7.2 1941 252,878 32.9 1942 87,231 -65.5 1943 10,149 -88.4 1944 10,349 2.0 1945 31,377 203.2 1946 230,403 634.3 1947 339,843 47.5 1948 384,133 13.0 1949 373,076 -2.9 1950 447,654 20.0 1951 607,965 35.8 1952 580,902 -4.5 1953 658,691 13.4 1954 664,997 1.0 1955 630,881 -5.1 1956 663,246 5.1 1957 701,094 5.7 1958 810,837 15.7 1959 825,184 1.8 1960 878,625 6.5 1961 833,279 -5.2 1962 1,044,768 25.4 1963 1,073,971 2.8 1964 1,079,837 0.5 1965 1,091,261 1.1 1966 1,094,754 0.3 1967 1,188,666 8.6
[a]The figures for 1938 have not been used to calculate total visitation to the national monument since the year is before the area was officially established.
Average annual increase in number of visits in the last 15 years has been about 5%.
In September 1954, 15½ years after the national monument was established, the five millionth visit was recorded. A total of ten million visits was attained just seven years later in July 1961. On August 16, 1966, Superintendent Frank A. Hjort officially welcomed a traveler and his family who represented the 15 millionth visit to Badlands National Monument. At the present rate of travel increase, the 20 millionth visit is expected in 1970. As of December 31, 1967, the total number of visits to the national monument since its establishment in 1939 is 16,991,394.