MONTROSE, Colo. (KREX) - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has reopened after a lightning-caused wildfire forced its closure earlier this summer, bringing a resurgence in tourism to the area.

Local businesses, which suffered from a downturn during the park's closure, are now seeing an increase in visitors as the park reopens and fall colors attract tourists.

"Actually after a couple of weeks when things settled down, the tourism did come back up," said Ed LeViness, owner of Ed’s Fly Shop. "We felt like in the town, I mean, this job started picking up."

William Woody, the public information officer for the City of Montrose, expressed relief at the park's reopening, stating, "We were very scared that this park was going to stay closed the rest of the year. So it's really a testam

See Full Page