Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site reopened to the public Friday. The fort closed April 12 due to the Bent’s Fort Fire, which burned approximately 1,652 acres of park, private, and state wildlife area lands.

As the park reopens Friday, only the fort and the quarter-mile path between the fort and parking area will be open. All other trails in the park will be temporarily closed for crews to mitigate post-fire hazards and remove hazard trees.

The fort will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to explore. All America the Beautiful Interagency passes and the Bent’s Old Fort pass are honored. Entry fees will be waived at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site Saturday, April 16, for the start of National Park Week.

Bent’s Old Fort provides a unique opportunity to “go back in time” and explore the rich history of a fur trading post on the Santa Fe Trail. The fort contains over two dozen rooms including trade rooms, council room, blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, dining room, kitchen, doctor’s office, watchtower, various living quarters, and warehouses, that are all stocked full of items that would have been found here in the 1840s. Don’t forget to meet the fort animals (horse, mules, goats, cats, chickens, and peacocks) during your visit.

Not yet ready to visit the park? Virtual tours of Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site can be viewed at https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/photosmultimedia/index.htm. Videos are also available on the park’s YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/user/bentsfortnps, and the park’s Junior Ranger page, https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/kidsyouth/self-guided-activity-book.htm, offers activities.