National Park Service replaces concessionaire for Crater Lake hospitality services
Sen. Wyden previously told NPS he had “serious concerns” about Aramark's management.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Aramark is no longer the concessionaire for Crater Lake National Park.
On Thursday afternoon, the National Park Service announced that hospitality management company ExplorUS had officially been approved as the Oregon park’s new concessionaire.
That title was previously held by Aramark, doing business as Crater Lake Hospitality, but the company had been under fire for its alleged mismanagement of the site.
Last December, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden told NPS Director Charles Sams he had “serious concerns” due to the company’s performance in annual concessionaire assessments and an in-person assessment that was later directed by Wyden.
According to the senator, Aramark failed to perform routine maintenance, failed to report a diesel spill to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, failed to properly train staff and more.
In a statement, the hospitality business told KOIN 6 it had been “working on improvements” to its services at the park.
But in February, NPS Pacific West Regional Director David Szymanski said the agency would terminate Aramark’s contract unless the company “shows cause as to why NPS should not do so.”
Later in March, the park service announced that ExplorUS was hoping to gain control of the concessions contract.
The Kansas-based company was founded nearly 30 years ago, and manages hospitality services at Illinois’ Starved Rock Lodge, St. Thomas’ Fairchild’s Beach Bar & Grill, and Utah’s Soldier Hollow Wasatch Mountain golf courses, among other sites.
At Crater Lake National Park, ExplorUS will be in charge of lodging, food and beverages, retail stores, and boat tours.
“We look forward to working with ExplorUS as they invest in facilities, staff training, visitor services, and other improvements to make visitors’ and employees’ experiences at Crater Lake even better,” Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Craig Ackerman said.
According to NPS, most visitor services at the park will open in mid-May.