Attraction Must Be Viewed Outside the Car

An attraction such as an interpretive sign may also serve to draw visitors out of their cars. Figure 10 shows the “Skell Head” and “Red Cloud Cliff and Pumice Castle” pull outs. Both sites have interpretive signs and a view visible from the car, but at “Skell Head” the visitor must leave the car to be able to read the sign. Of the groups who stopped at Skell Head 82% had someone leave the car, while at “Red Cloud Cliff and Pumice Castle” someone got out only 53% of the time (p<.02).

Figure 9. Better view from outside.

Figure 10.  Attraction must be viewed out of car.

Implications for Management

For many visitors the “National Park Experience” occurs from behind the windshield of a car. Getting visitors out of their cars and into closer contact with the resource may be a management goal. If so, data presented here suggest that this can be accomplished by manipulating structures. By providing attractions such as a better view or an interpretive sign that cannot be seen from inside, the manager has a better chance of enticing visitors away from their cars.

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