By Janet Shamlian | NBC News
TUSAYAN, Ariz. — A small community near the southern mouth of the Grand Canyon that usually boasts a bevy of tourists has been turned into a veritable ghost town by the government shutdown.
Nearly all of the 542 people who live in Tusayan, Ariz., just outside the Grand Canyon’s South Rim entrance, rely on the world-famous tourist attraction for their livelihoods.
But the government shutdown has shuttered the famous national park and emptied out the surrounding streets, depriving residents of revenue.
“It’s disastrous,” said Greg Bryan, the manager of a local Best Western hotel who also happens to be the town’s mayor. He added that Tusayan is losing tens of thousands of dollars a day — totaling close to a million in much-needed money that business owners likely won’t recoup.
Related: Petition Calls For Ban On Mining And Drilling On Public Lands While National Parks Are Closed
