SmokiesBackpacker - Given the negative tone of many of your previous comments on this site, your earlier post on this story came across to me as a sarcastic comment rather than an honest question. If I misinterpreted your intentions, I apologize.

The only other person we saw while there was the poor lady at the entrance gate.

Interesting since there is no entrance gate at Natural Bridges. Traffic is routed through the Visitor Center parking lot, and you're supposed to park and go inside and pay your fee there. Past that point you're on the honor system, subject I suppose to spot checks by Law Enforcement. Being very familiar with that unit, I would have to say that Natural Bridges is a drive-through park, expendible on most peoples' itineraries. There are lots of beautiful places in the vicinity that you can drive through without any fee. My guess is that once this is implemented, there will be a lot more u-turns at the boundary sign. Too bad. It's an interesting place, well worth preserving, but doesn't rise to the Canyonlands/Arches/Bryce/Zion/Grand Canyon/Lake Powell level. The NPS's across-the-board fee increases are going to have the effect of sacrificing small but wonderful places like Natural Bridges in order to maximize revenue from the cash cows like Grand Canyon.

entrance gate, visitor center... I stopped and paid. And talked with the only other person I saw the entire time there. We drove the loop (and saw no one). We hiked (and saw no one). I greatly enjoyed it and have planned a return trip.

I suspect many people passing through the park are on the "Grand Loop" and are checking off another box on their list. And I suspect most, as such, have a national parks pass.

I'm not sure how less visitation is a sacrifice. Less people means less wear and tear. About 100,000 people per year visit and, since it isn't really close to anything or on the way to anywhere, I'm pretty sure the visits are intentional (i.e. - one is less likely to turn around and leave after driving all the way there). But what if they aren't? What if visitation drops by 20% by 50%? What changes? Nothing, most likely. The lady all alone at the visitor center will still be alone. The bridges will continue to defy gravity, at least for a time until they don't. The federal government will continue to protect it for future generations.

I'm sure visitation would increase somewhat with a National Park designation. But what would the area gain with visitation?

I suspect many people passing through the park are on the "Grand Loop" and are checking off another box on their list. And I suspect most, as such, have a national parks pass.

Agreed. Which pass was most likely purchased elsewhere. Since all pass revenue stays at the unit where purchased, Natural Bridges or any other unit sees zero revenue from 99% of them. With more and more park-specific annual passes going up into the $60 range, there is inevitably going to be upward pressure on the current $80 national pass fee. What's your pain threshold? $90? $100? $150? $200? Get ready, because that's coming. Bottom line: it's just another tax.

I would pay $200 for a yearly access pass. It would still be a bargain.

Actually, not all the money collected in a park necessarily remains in that park.  Larger parks or parks with more income keep only about 75% and must share the remainder with smaller, less affluent park areas.