THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
The National Park Service invites the public to review and comment on four early concepts for the condition and future of the reconstructed fort at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site. The concepts and supporting information are available at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ beolalternatives, and comments will be accepted through October 23.
Official NPS sourceBent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces a special presentation for Friday, February 27th, 2026, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 2:00 p.m. in the Ed Stafford Theater at Otero College, in La Junta, Colorado.
Official NPS sourceBent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is excited to announce our program schedule for 2026! There will be something for everyone and a wide variety of programming and topics. Programs will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 150th anniversary of Colorado Statehood, and the 180th Anniversary of the US-Mexican War.
Official NPS source
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces special presentations—"Separating Legend from Fact: Mountain Men and Bent’s Old Fort," for Saturday, December 6th, 2025, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 10:00 a.m. in the corral at the rear of the Fort, and 2:00 p.m. at Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta, Colorado.
Official NPS sourceBent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces special presentations for Saturday, August 9th, 2025, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 10:00 a.m. in the corral at the rear of the Fort, and 2:00 p.m. at Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta, Colorado.
Official NPS source
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces special presentations for Saturday, July 5th, 2025, as part of its Stories of the Borderlands program series. This presentation will be offered at 10:00 a.m. in the corral at the rear of the Fort, and 2:00 p.m. at Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta, Colorado.
Official NPS source
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces a special program hosted from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. These programs will commemorate the 250th Birthday of the United States Army, which is also Flag Day.
Official NPS source
Guided, park ranger-led tours of the reconstructed fort will begin on Saturday, May 24, 2025. For the summer of 2025, guided tours of the fort will occur at 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturdays and at 11 am on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Each tour will last approximately 75 minutes and begin at the visitor parking orientation shelter. Tours are limited to twenty-five participants.
Official NPS source
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is excited to announce a special program in the park from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. This free program will be the official launch of our brand-new bilingual Junior Ranger book!
Official NPS source
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces a special program hosted at Boggsville Historic Site from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, on Saturday, April 5th, 2025. This program will focus on historic forms of entertainment enjoyed and influenced by the different cultures of the Southwestern Borderlands. Gambling and competitions were often among the first interactions between different peoples, and participation was often a path to learn about each other’s cultures. They often learned each other’s games before they were able to learn their languages.
Official NPS source
The reconstructed fort at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is temporarily closed to the public in response to safety concerns that stem from structural deficiencies that were exacerbated by a recent heavy snow event. Stabilization work is underway so the fort can be reopened. The park's trails and grounds are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m., except for holiday closures. All entrance fees are waived while the reconstructed fort is temporarily closed.
Official NPS source
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site will begin off-season hours of operation on Monday, October 28, 2024. During the slower off-season the fort will be open weekly Friday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the winter season, park trails and grounds will still be accessible 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., excepting holiday closures. This winter schedule will be in effect through March 9, 2025.
Official NPS source
A new National Parks Service report shows that visitor spending among the four parks within the High Plains Group contributed to 60 jobs and a cumulative economic benefit of $5.3 million.
Official NPS source