Paving the Way to the Skywalk

Posted by Donna Dailey Jul 30, 2007

For the past six years, as the Hualapai Tribe planned and built the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West, they knew there was one obstacle to the success of their daring Sky Bridge. The only entrance to the site was along a rough, unpaved 14-mile stretch of Diamond Bar Road, making access difficult for visitors with low-clearance vehicles.

The Hualapai wanted to pave the road and the funding for it was in place. But lawsuits had been filed by a neighboring landowner against the county and two government agencies. Even though the Hualapai were not involved, they could not proceed with the paving until the dispute was settled.

According to Sheri Yellowhawk, CEO of Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, which is owned by the Hualapai, the lawsuits involving the road have now been dismissed and they have received permission to go ahead with their plans. Permanent paving could begin as early as October.

When the Skywalk opened in March 2007, visitor numbers soared from an average of 400 a day to 2,000 a day. Traffic on Diamond Bar Road increased so dramatically that Mojave County allowed temporary improvements to reduce dust and make driving smoother and easier.

Tour operators who had been bringing visitors to Grand Canyon West for many years said that even these interim changes made a huge difference. The road, which is surrounded by one of the world's largest forests of ancient Joshua trees, was ecologically surfaced with regard to the environment.

It will cost an estimated $20 million to fully pave Diamond Bar Road. Yellowhawk said that $12 million will come from federal grant money that the Hualapai have been saving for this purpose. The remainder will come from the revenues generated by the Skywalk and other activities at Grand Canyon West.

The paving of their main access road is only the first of the benefits the Hualapai hope to see from the Skywalk. Initially many people, including members of the tribe, were critical of building such an intrusive manmade structure on this unique natural landscape and on tribal lands. But tourism offered a way out of poverty for the people living in this remote, often harsh environment.

The Hualapai plan to use income from the Skywalk to fund their first fire department in Peach Springs, and to install a new water system throughout the community. Currently, water has to be pumped manually and water restrictions are often in force. Residents have to drive 45 minutes just to wash their car.

Funds will also go towards developing a water source at Grand Canyon West, where water is now brought in daily by trucks from the nearby town of Meadview.

"As the destination continues to grow, so does the scope of what we can do to improve the quality of life for our tribe," YellowHawk said.

To read more about visiting the Grand Canyon Skywalk, click here.

For information on accommodations near the Skywalk at Kingman and Peach Springs, AZ, click here.