ZION NATIONAL PARK, Utah — With the shutdown over, is it truly back to normal for Zion National Park and others in Utah?

The day after the president signed legislation to end the lengthy shutdown, what had been a free ride to get into Zion wasn’t on Thursday. Rangers were stopping cars and visitors at the gate to pick up the $20-30 entry fee once again.

Visiting from the UK, Emma Strong has been touring the national parks of the west from Rainer to Yosemite. But for the first time, she had to get out the wallet.

"We didn't have to pay [during the shutdown], so I guess that was good … and then today was the first day that someone was in there, so there was a bit of queuing," Strong explained.

Thanks to funds that mainly came in from the non-profit Zion Forever, with an assist from the s

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