$16 Million Mount Rushmore Concession Contract up for Bid

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The National Park Service is accepting proposals for a 10-year contract to manage parking, food, beverage and retail operations at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

The Rapid City Journal reports the contract is a combination of what now are two separate contracts. One is held by the nonprofit Mount Rushmore Society for parking and the other is held by the for-profit Xanterra Parks & Resorts for food, beverages and retail.

A Park Service prospectus says the two groups' receipts last year totaled more than $16 million.

If Xanterra doesn't bid for the single contract and win it, the successful bidder will have to pay $5.6 million to the company for the value of its investments in buildings, fixtures and other property at the memorial.

Proposals are due Jan. 13, 2016.

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