Photo: Representatives from the U.S. Congress, the National Park Foundation, and the National Park Service break ground at Great Sand Dunes Housing Unit 14. NPS Photo/Ree Rodgers
By Sierra Willoughby
The National Park Service broke ground last week on a $14 million project to rehabilitate employee housing at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Mosca, Colorado.
Partners, including the National Park Foundation, joined NPS leadership and elected officials for a ceremonial event marking the start of long-needed improvements.
Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2020, the project will rehabilitate 13 existing park housing units located within the park. Originally built in the 1960s, these units support more than 25 park employees and their families. The project will upgrade fire protection and wastewater systems, address water damage, update both interior and exterior finishes, and ensure units meet accessibility standards.
“This housing project addresses a long-standing need for the park,” said Superintendent Andrea Compton. “The rehabilitation will help us attract and retain employees to support our visitors and ensure our employees have safe and dependable places to live in a remote setting. Employees living onsite are able to provide prompt assistance to visitors during emergencies and quickly address repairs at facilities such as the campground or roads.”
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is home to the tallest dunes in North America, serving as the centerpiece in a vast landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Each year, over 400,000 visitors visit Great Sand Dunes and enjoy the park’s diverse outdoor recreation opportunities, including exploring over 30 square miles of dunefield, hiking to alpine lakes, and experiencing dark night skies.
In 2024, park visitor spending contributed an estimated $30.9 million to the local economy, part of a $1.2 billion total generated by National Park Service lands across Colorado.
The Great American Outdoors Act remains one of the most significant conservation achievements of President Donald J. Trump’s administration. The law provides significant funding to address long-deferred maintenance needs across the National Park System, ensuring safe, resilient and accessible public lands for future generations.
About the National Park Service
Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.
Sierra Willoughby is Public Information Officer with the Great Sand Dunes Public Affairs Office.