Colorado is picking up the tab to keep two visitor centers of the Rocky Mountain National Park, a key economic driver for the state, open as the federal shutdown entered its third week.

The state will pay $3,200 per day to keep the Beaver Meadows and Kawuneeche visitor centers operating starting on Oct. 24. The arrangement will continue for seven days.

“By taking this action, we are helping our local communities, and allowing visitors continued access into the park to enjoy the breathtaking vistas and activities Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer,” Polis said in a statement, noting visitor centers are key to informing people about the park.

The funding plan stemmed out of a 2023 executive order that directed the natural resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, to come up with a path to keep the state’s national parks open in the event of a government shutdown.

The Rocky Mountain National Park is among the most visited parks in the country. In 2023, it attracted more than four million visitors and generated nearly $900 million in economic output. Some 7,833 total jobs relied on the park, the governor’s office said, citing estimates.

Under the plan, Colorado will get reimbursed for its spending if the shutdown ended within seven days. If not, the governor left open the possibility of paying for the visitor centers’ ongoing operations.

All national parks in Colorado remain open, though with limited or unavailable services.