On the first day of the government shutdown, a peppy old woman approached one of the only two workers at the visitors center in Arches National Park, asking the worker to direct her to Double Arch.

“I am unauthorized to answer any questions regarding visitors’ experiences,” they responded to her.

Confused, she pulled out her map, asking if they could just point to it on the folded piece of paper — but they couldn’t.

The worker told The Times-Independent they were only permitted to answer questions related to fire safety, which is deemed as an “essential” service, not visitor information.

The federal government has only been shuttered for two days, but it’s already leaving many visitors in limbo.

On Thursday morning, the visitors center was closed.

Visitors were left to wander outside

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