Project Details
Horseshoe Bend emerged as a global tourist magnet in the latter part of the 20th century. For decades, the original dirt parking lot and a modest pathway leading to the scenic overlook stood unchanged. However, with the advent of social media, Horseshoe Bend skyrocketed to tourism stardom, earning its place as one of the nation’s most Instagrammed destinations. In 2017, it drew in over 1.5 million visitors, a number that surged to over 2 million the following year.
In 2019, facing the challenge of accommodating such vast numbers, officials from Page and the National Park Service collaborated on a plan to address the influx of tourists. This initiative included the creation of a new parking lot, the introduction of a fee schedule, and the establishment of well-designed pathways leading to the overlook location. Recognizing the need for sustainable solutions, the City of Page sought to implement an off-grid power system to meet the site’s energy demands. NewGrid was contracted to design and install this system, which successfully powered the site without reliance on a generator. A year later, the City of Page extended utility lines to enable the power system to feed surplus energy back into the Page electrical grid.