Yellowstone is heading for a record tourist season.
At every Yellowstone attraction, there were crowds this summer. There were lines of people with cameras and spotting scopes roadside, and miles long traffic jams when motorists failed to pull over for the iconic park wildlife.
More than 3 million visitors were in the Park by the end of August. Records were set every summer month. Gateway communities like Cody benefited. The owner of the Proud Cut Saloon, Del Nose, said it was busy.
Nose commented, "This season was phenomenal. We were probably head and shoulders above the summers for the last five years."
But some residents grumble about traffic jams within the Park. They'd like to see better traffic management. Next year it could get worse. 2016 is the National Park Service’s 100th birthday, which means Yellowstone should get even more visitors.