One of the three visitor centres in Dartmoor National Park is set to close today (Friday, October 31) after more than three decades due to a financial crisis.
The Princetown centre, housed in the former Duchy Hotel, has been an information and exhibition hub since 1993.
Earlier this year, the Dartmoor National Park Authority resolved to shut down the attraction at the end of October unless a sustainable business plan was proposed by the community.
The authority revealed it had seen a decrease in core grant funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) over the past 15 years, but managed to allocate £50,000 from its reserves to keep the visitor centre open for the 2025 summer season following local insistence on its significance to the village.
"On average across England's 10 National Parks, the value of the core grants have fallen by 15% between 2010 and 2025", stated DNPA. "Factoring in inflation, it equates to a 40% reduction in real terms across England's national parks. Changes to employer National Insurance contributions have also had an impact," reports .
Kevin Bishop, chief executive of DNPA, said: "This is a sad day. Over the years, we've worked hard to explore a wide range of options aimed at securing the future of the visitor centre or providing a new use of the building that would support the local economy. Despite our best efforts, the scale of the funding challenges we face left us with no alternative.
"We'd like to thank our hard-working centre staff over the years for the warm welcome they've given to people who visit Princetown as part of their Dartmoor experience."
He added the DNPA was working towards establishing Princetown as one of three 'hubs' where visitors could engage with the distinctive qualities that make the national park such an extraordinary destination through its Dartmoor's Dynamic Landscape, a National Lottery Heritage Fund programme.
The visitor centre was leased by the authority for £100 annually, though it remained liable for repairs, maintenance and insurance costs.
A one-off government grant of £440,000 two years ago enabled the facility to remain operational after closure was initially proposed in 2022.
During a Dartmoor National Park Authority meeting earlier this year, local guest house proprietor Caroline Wain highlighted that this represented the largest of the three visitor centres across Dartmoor and shutting the flagship venue would send "a negative message to visitors".
"The loss of this community and business space would further isolate Princetown creating a sense of decline," she stated.
She noted the community was already experiencing difficulties due to uncertainty surrounding the future of Dartmoor Prison and its museum.
DNPA will maintain operations at visitor centres in Haytor and Postbridge.
