Visitors Bureau Helps With Coal Mine Tour Costs

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — The Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau is footing more of the costs for popular tours at Eagle Butte coal mine this summer.

Normally, the mine pays all costs for the free tours, but as prices and production in the U.S. coal market have plunged, the mine has been cutting costs.

Mary Silvernell, of the County Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the tours are too popular and too important for local tourism to stop so the bureau decided to put up about $15,000 to insure a tour vehicle and pay the wages of tour guides.

Eagle Butte is providing fuel and maintenance for the vehicle.

The Associated Press reports  that more than 1,600 people visited the mine last summer.