Academy Reopens to Public Aug. 2
8/2/2021 9:30:00 AM | General
The Academy reopens to the public Aug. 2 after nearly 17 months of closure which allowed Academy staff to focus on safely preparing, training and commissioning new officers into the U.S. Air and Space Forces amidst the ongoing COVID pandemic.
"We're excited to welcome the community back to the United States Air Force Academy," said Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, Superintendent. "I'm proud of our USAFA team for their incredible work to ensure a safe, successful environment for our cadets, faculty and families. Cadets have been back since last fall, and we've learned to work in an environment focused on reducing COVID risks."
Academy gates open to visitors starting Aug. 2, 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Visitors require a state-issued ID, Defense Department ID, or passport, and random vehicle inspections may be required. Current Defense Department and Air Force Academy rules require all individuals to wear a mask inside Academy facilities. Masks are required for all visitors while on the Academy, regardless of vaccination status and in accordance with Defense Department guidance.
Declared a national landmark in 2004, the Academy is a popular tourist destination with an average of 1,000,000 visitors annually in pre-COVID years. The Air Force Academy Visitors Center with informational displays and presentations opens weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are welcome in the Arnold Hall food court and on hiking and biking trails, the stables, golf course and Visitors Center.
Visitors may observe the Cadet area (from the chapel wall), athletic fields (from overlook parking areas), aircraft on permanent static display and ongoing Airmanship training. Noon meal formations return with the start of the academic year on Aug. 9.
The Falcon Athletics ticket office resumes regular hours of operation weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Cadet Field House and online. Visit GoAirForceFalcons.com for the latest schedules, venue maps and game times. Academy Athletics open to the public with the first intercollegiate event of the year Aug 14 at 6 p.m. in the Cadet Soccer Stadium as the Falcons host Colorado in women's soccer. Air Force football hosts two practices open to the public Aug. 14 and 21 at 9:30 a.m. in Falcon Stadium. The Falcons open the season against Lafayette Sept. 4 at noon in Falcon Stadium.
Ongoing closures include the Cadet Chapel (undergoing renovation), the Planetarium, and the Harmon Hall Parking Lot. In all cases, services could be limited due to COVID restrictions.
USAFA officials continue to monitor and evaluate risks related to COVID closely. As needed, additional measures will be enforced to ensure the success of the primary mission of Developing Leaders of Characters for the U.S. Air and Space Forces. Visitors are encouraged to monitor the www.usafa.edu website for any updates to this announcement. For more information, please contact the U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs office at (719) 333-7731 or media.rel@afacademy.af.edu.
