At 'The Rock,' getting in might be tougher than getting out
Government-run monuments such as Alcatraz Island could close Saturday if a budget agreement isn't reached.
April 8th, 2011
07:50 PM ET

At 'The Rock,' getting in might be tougher than getting out

The difficulty at one of America’s most infamous prisons this weekend might be trying to get on the inside.

Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, will be closed to visitors if there is a government shutdown because it is run by the National Park Service.

Before it became a popular tourist destination, the federal prison at Alcatraz was home to the likes of criminals such as Al Capone, Robert "Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.

As of Thursday night, 3,000 people had booked tickets through Alcatraz Cruises, according to the ferry operator that transports people to the prison know as “The Rock.”

National parks could lose $32 million a day

“We typically sell out on the weekend with 5,000 tickets a day at this time of year,” says Denise Rasmussen, director of sales and marketing for Alcatraz Cruises.

“We will be refunding tickets each day that the government is shutdown.”

Rasmussen says that the company is working on an alternative cruise plan around San Francisco Bay beginning Saturday if the prison grounds are shut down.

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Filed under: Budget • California
soundoff (13 Responses)
  1. Shane

    Why don't we send Boehner and all the other slimy politicians there to rot?

    April 8, 2011 at 7:56 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Herbert

    Whatever happened to the old saying, "Get a government job for security. They'll take care of you.". I guess after 30 years and many billions of dollars in foreign aid, it's just not true anymore. At least not for awhile.

    April 8, 2011 at 8:15 pm | Report abuse |
  3. JK

    Away with the tea partym

    April 8, 2011 at 9:22 pm | Report abuse |
  4. JK

    Away with the tea party

    April 8, 2011 at 9:23 pm | Report abuse |
  5. raven

    I had no idea the parks raked in that kinda dough. must be a lotta upkeep for the lovely porta-potties.

    April 8, 2011 at 10:37 pm | Report abuse |
  6. banasy

    Doubtful by the smell of them, raven!

    April 8, 2011 at 11:32 pm | Report abuse |
  7. raven

    Exactly! Ugh .just ugh . Ive never used one cuz I couldnt get past the stench. Id rather go in the woods . And have . Those things are absolutely putrid!

    April 9, 2011 at 12:37 am | Report abuse |
  8. banasy

    Lol! Just keep the shoes clear!

    April 9, 2011 at 1:07 am | Report abuse |
  9. First

    First!

    April 9, 2011 at 10:48 am | Report abuse |
  10. banasy

    Bzzzzzt! Wrong!

    April 9, 2011 at 3:23 pm | Report abuse |
  11. stephen hawkings

    Come on, the fed need your money to pay their holidays, private jets, caviar etc.
    give them a break, they have to pay loads of tax on their minimum wage of US$ 750,000 per year avg.

    April 10, 2011 at 1:02 pm | Report abuse |
  12. eileen dover

    Just can't see visiting a prison as a "great vacation getaway." lol

    April 10, 2011 at 8:33 pm | Report abuse |
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