A powerhouse of gorgeous wildflowers, cascading waterfalls, tranquil wooded hollows, and all things gorgeous vistas, Shenandoah National Park has had a busy October and accounted for 25% of its 1.7 million annual visitors, but as the federal government shutdown persists, Shenandoah may face a 10% budget shortfall in 2026 .

However, one of its gateway towns, Front Royal, Virginia, experiences a tourism surge, as Shenandoah National Park may lose 10% of its total funding by next year. Speaking with WBUR's Here & Now Radio , bakery owner Ryland Greenhouse said that while national parks, including Shenandoah, feel the punch of the government shutdown, the town of Front Royal, one of the gateways to the park, is experiencing "the opposite."

Front Royal Experiences Booming Tourism Amid Th

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