Government shutdown to impact Bay Area tourism. Here’s what to know

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Massive crowds of tourists could be seen along The Embarcadero Tuesday afternoon, just back from an afternoon trip to San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island.

Crowds that we may or may not see in the days ahead with the government shutdown, because Alcatraz is run by the U.S. National Park Service.

“Sometimes travel is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing and people are going to come to San Francisco for maybe the only time in their life, and they’re going to miss a great sight, and that’s too bad,” said Saul Caplan visiting from Ohio.

It’s unclear at this point what the plan for Alcatraz is. When there was a government shutdown in 2013 the historic penitentiary closed. During another shutdown in 2018 and 2019, Alcatraz stayed open during the day, but special tours and night tours were canceled. Muir Woods also closed in 2013 and stayed open for part of the shutdown in 2018 and 2019.

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“They’re messing with government people’s lives, it’s sad. Like I said now this shuts down, we just flew out here for this and now you’re going to tell me I can’t go because they can’t make a decision,” said Anthony Nix of Nevada.

The Nix family flew to the City by the Bay Tuesday and are hoping to use their tickets and go to Alcatraz on Thursday. They’ve now retired, but have dealt with four shutdowns, as husband Anthony worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 30 years. In fact, his pension checks will now be delayed.

“Because we’ve had the four shutdowns, we’ve put money aside so we are ready if it does happen but it’s a sad thing, it shouldn’t happen,” said Nix.

Next week’s San Francisco Fleet Week could also be impacted if a deal isn’t reached. Organizers said, “If a government shut down takes effect, U.S. Military participation- including ships, aircraft and sailors- would be paused.”

MORE: SF Fleet Week US military events, including Blue Angels, may be in jeopardy with government shutdown

“The art of compromise and reaching across the aisle as trite as that expression is, I think they’ve lost the ability to do that and that’s what makes the government work,” said Constance Caplan who is in town from Ohio.

“I just wish that we could come together and just live peacefully,” said Nick Coyle of New Jersey.

“And I just hope that the shutdown doesn’t last very long and we can get back to doing what we’re supposed to do, be a country,” said Caplan.