Xanterra Sues Park Service Over Grand Canyon Deal

Xanterra Parks & Resorts is suing the National Park Service over recent policy changes at Grand Canyon National Park, where it has operated since 1905, reports the Denver Post. At issue is the $200 million Xanterra and its previous incarnation as the Fred Harvey Co. invested into the park's infrastructure over the years (Fred Harvey began operating at the park before it was a national park, in 1905). By law that must be paid back to Xanterra by any other company taking over the contract, a formidable obstacle to any potential bidder. To mitigate that, the National Park Service had pulled together $100 million to pay down the amount owed, but Xanterra contends in its lawsuit filing that the move is in effect an attempt by the Park Service to subsidize competing concessionaires.