WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO GRAND CANYON AIRPORT...AND WHY NO ONE FLIES THERE ANYMORE

I have been flying into Grand Canyon Airport for years (KGCN). The past three years I have not flown there due to health reasons for my wife. We decided to fly to KGCN last Saturday with the weather being beautiful for this time of year. The experience we had was horrible. Several years ago KGCN moved GA parking from the FBO area to a ramp about 1/2 mile south of the FBO. KGCN is a secure airport even though they no longer have any commercial flights with the majority of their flights being sight seeing airplanes that fly over and through the Canyon. Upon moving the GA ramp the FBO, Grand Canyon Air, was to supply a shuttle from transient parking to the FBO and back. The GA ramp is a secure area, and we were not supposed to walk to the terminal. No van arrived and we called their frequency several times without a reply. We decided to walk to the FBO which was a big mistake for my wife due to the high altitude. When we arrived at the FBO my wife could not catch her breath for about 30 minutes. We sat down in the lounge, and when my wife recovered we decided to go home. The FBO refused to shuttle us back to our plane, and we had to walk. Our objective was to go have brunch at El Tovar which is a beautiful lodge with old fashion dining and then step out to the scenic area. We were the only airplane on a huge ramp for transient aircraft. I remember when this ramp used to be full! Now KGCN averages 1 GA flight every 4 days. All the rental car facilities have left the airport as there is no business for them. Taxi service has raised their price to get to the Canyon from $10 to $23 one way due to no competition. In the summer there used to be a shuttle that would carry you to the Canyon for $5 a person each way. They quit their service saying it is too expensive. When we went to return to our plane the FBO would not transport us back either. I made some phone calls to pilots around the Phoenix area, and they all stated they do no fly to KGCN any longer for the above reasons. I talked to the new airport manager and he is in between a rock and a hard place. KGCN is going to put out and RFP for FBO services. Until a new FBO is on board with complete service no one is going to fly their plane there. I surely cannot recommend going to the Grand Canyon by GA Aircraft. It takes 1 hour to fly there from Phoenix and 51/2 hours to drive.The Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen, and I never get tired of the views. It is sad that I will probably never return there in my lifetime. After posting this morning had several phone calls from pilots around the Valley. They recommended flying into G40 Valle Airport 18 miles south of the Grand Canyon and renting a car there. We sure will do this next time.