Update: As of Saturday, November 3, 2007, the roads to the Griffith Observatory were re-opened to private vehicle traffic. The observatory shuttle is no longer running, and there is no longer any cost associated with visiting the Griffith Observatory. Read more here and here. Tuesday was media day for the re-opening of the Griffith Observatory. Los Angeles City Mayor Villaraigosa spoke at a press conference in front of the observatory, where he announced that the re-opening date would be Friday, November 3rd. He also urged visitors to make reservations to the observatory through its website because access will be on a timed-entry and shuttle reservation system.
Instead of a $5.50 fee for the shuttle, as had been previously reported, the shuttle will now cost $8 for adults, $4 for seniors and children ages 5-12, and free for children under 5. The shuttle will run from the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park and from the Hollywood and Highland shopping center in Hollywood. The city expects that the shuttle buses and timed reservation system will be in effect for about a year.
I spoke to Jon Kirk Mukri, the general manager for the city's Department of Recreation and Parks. He said that the city attorney had advised that Col. Griffith's bequest to create the park (and build the observatory) had required that access be free to all. So the city looked at the 199 parking spaces in the observatory parking lot, and estimated those would be equivalent to 1200 admissions daily to the observatory.
Mukri said that the city has decided to allocate 1200 free tickets to the observatory, which will be released 48 hours in advance. The logistics have not yet been worked out, but the city may run shuttle buses for these tickets from the Greek Theater parking lots at the bottom of the hill.
Meanwhile, hikers and cyclists who can get up to the observatory will be free of charge, but they must also make reservations through the timed-entry system. The Observatory will be open from noon to 10 pm Tuesday through Friday, and 10 AM to 10 PM Saturday and Sunday (closed on Monday), so that the parking lot next to the observatory (where the trailhead leads to the top of Mount Hollywood) will be available for hikers and others before the observatory opens.
Some photos from the preview:
A model of the moon in the underground Edge of Space exhibit area.
The Depths of Space exhibit area (also in the new underground area).
The refurbished exhibit area in the west wing of the observatory. Notice the great natural lighting.
More great lighting in the passageway to the new underground areas.