The "Trump Government Shutdown" is costing imaginary millions.

The economic impact extends beyond disappointed visitors. According to National Park Service studies, tourism from Stones River National Battlefield generated nearly $24 million in economic impact for the local economy in 2024.
“We’re talking people staying in hotels, going to restaurants, buying stuff in the stores,” said Zei. “That impact is just going to be lost because of the shutdown.”

Govt. shutdown forces closure of Stones River National Battlefield

If you are not from Murfreesboro and read this, you imagine that the park is the center of a hub of business dedicated to cater the of thousands of people that must visit every week. Being a national park and a Civil War cemetery, of course means that there are no gaudy lodging nor funnel cake and assorted fried morsels stations inside (Thank God) so everything must be surrounding the park.

Except, there is nothing like that around and specially not dedicated to attend the needs of the park. That kind of business do exist south of the National Park, but interestingly enough there are almost no access to the park that way and the main entrance is on the north side. The area hotels, restaurants and other business are surrounding Murfreesboro’s Medical center area with Ascension St. Thomas complex at its center.

What is near the northside of the park where the entrance is located? Mechanic shops, Harley dealership, old private homes, a motel remodeled to be a condo, metal shops, etc, basically small business unrelated to the tourist trade.

About the only time you see a large concentration of people in the park is one day in December during Wreaths Across America. Old readers know that ever since I moved to Murfreesboro, I have donated and attended the laying of the wreaths. Yes, I may have missed one or other event in the park, but there is simply no continuous flow of tourist that would even come close to explain the direct injection of $67,000 daily to the local economy.

What surprised me a bit in this article is that the tone is starting to shift blame a bit. But of course is way way down, literally at the bottom.

On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats blocked Republicans’ stopgap funding bill for the 12th time. The measure needs 60 votes to advance. Democrats heard testimony from Americans impacted by the shutdown, including National Park Service employees.

But it is the Media at its finest.