Question 1

What is the "Gateway Arch Ticket Scalping and Counterfeit Tram Passes" scam in St. Louis?

Accepted Answer

The Gateway Arch tram ride to the top of the 630-foot monument at Gateway Arch National Park sells out frequently during peak season and on weekends. Scalpers outside the Gateway Arch Museum entrance on Washington Avenue and along Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard sell tickets at markups of 50–200%, including counterfeit and previously used passes that fail at the tram boarding point. The Arch grounds are a National Park Service site—no authorized third-party ticket reseller exists. Purchase Gateway Arch tram tickets only at the official website (gatewayarch.com) or at the museum ticket counter. NPS employees at the Arch do not sell tickets on the grounds outside the building. Advance online booking is strongly recommended for weekends and summer months. Any seller on the riverfront promenade or Washington Avenue is unauthorized.

Question 2

What is the "Forest Park "Guide" Solicitation" scam in St. Louis?

Accepted Answer

Forest Park—St. Louis's 1,300-acre central park home to the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, and the Muny amphitheater—is entirely free to visit. Street-level solicitors near the Grand Basin on Government Drive and at the main zoo entrance on Government Drive approach tourists offering "guided tours" of the park for cash fees of $20–$50 per person. These individuals have no official park affiliation and provide no access or information beyond what free park signage and the STL Parks app offer. All major Forest Park attractions—the St. Louis Zoo, Art Museum (general collection), History Museum, and Science Center—are free. Park maps are available at every major entry point and through the City of St. Louis's Forest Park Forever app. Never pay any individual for "guided access" to a free public park.

Tour & Activity Scams in St. Louis

Gateway Arch Ticket Scalping and Counterfeit Tram Passes

Forest Park "Guide" Solicitation

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