[Philip Wright, Verde Valley News] — Thursday will be the last day to visit Jerome State Historic Park. “Thursday will be the last day,” said Mike Rollins, park manager. He said he had “no idea” when the site will re-open. The State Parks Board voted last Friday to close Jerome State Historic Park. This Friday, the park will not open. “Thursday will be the last day,” said Mike Rollins, park manager. He said he had “no idea” when the site will re-open.
Jerome Mayor Al Palmieri thought the decision came about abruptly, leaving the town no time to offer alternate solutions. “If they had given some warning, we might have been able to do something,” he said. Palmieri said he thinks that if one or two park employees remained on site, the town could have put together a volunteer effort to keep it open. “At least on weekends,” he said.
Rollins said he will remain assigned to the park Monday through Fridays from 8 to 5, and his staff will be assigned to Dead Horse Ranch, Slide Rock, and Red Rock state parks. “I’m still going to be here to manage the project whenever that starts,” Rollins said. He explained that a renovation project will make some major repairs to the north side of the building. That is the area where a large section of plaster fell off. Part of the building was closed following that collapse. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]