Study Shows Rock Climbers Bring $4.5 million Each Year into Lander’s Economy
November 5th, 2022 (Lander, WY) – A new study reveals visiting rock climbers generate $4.5 million each year within the Lander area economy. Commissioned by the Central Wyoming Climbers’ Alliance (WyoClimbers), the study was funded by a grant from the Access Fund and conducted by researchers from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU).The research concluded that to continue this economic drive requires continued access to the world-class rock climbing areas that surround the town of Lander. Sustainable access to Lander area rock climbing is of significant economic value to local businesses and jobs.
Since the early days of sport climbing in the US three decades ago, Lander has grown as a destination for climbers, both nationally and internationally. Each year, more climbers are visiting and/or relocating to Lander. The sport of climbing provides valuable physical and psychological benefits to the individual. With the following results of the 2021 EKU Economic Impact Study, we are now also able to quantify the benefits to the Lander community:
Visitation numbers – Lander receives nearly 37,000 climbing-focused visits each year. Roughly 80% of these visits come from persons living outside of Fremont County, which functions as the study area for this study.
Visitor expenditures – Climbers visiting Lander generate $4.5 million in lodging, transportation, retail purchases, and food purchases each year in Fremont County. Climbers also spend an additional $1.1 million in Wyoming, but outside of Fremont County while traveling to and from Lander.
Support to local jobs – Climber visitor expenditures support $1.7 million in wages for local workers and the presence of 51 jobs in the study area. The jobs supported by visiting climbers are predominantly unskilled jobs, which results in dependable jobs for local workers.
Tax benefits – Climbers generate roughly $710,000 annually in taxes at county, state, federal levels.
Local climbers – Climbers living in the Lander area spend ~$36,000 per person annually, supporting the local economy.
Education – Climbers are well-educated, with 46% having a four-year degree and 29% having a graduate degree. A concurrent study shows that climbers are well versed in Leave No Trace principles, therefore recreate as low-impact, stewards of the natural climbing resources.
*80% of returning visitors indicated that their typical expenditures in Lander were lower due to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years.
The economic benefits to the Lander community will continue each year; the only requirement is access to the already available outdoor climbing resources. Maintaining access to climbing requires upkeep of trails and climbing hardware, along with continued education and communication with climbers about sustainable recreation practices.
WyoClimbers is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting climbing in central Wyoming through access, education and celebration. Our work is made possible through volunteer hours, donations, grants and collaboration with local land managers. For more information on how you can help support local climbing access, browse our website, sign-up for our newsletter, or contact info@wyomingclimbers.org.