Shenandoah National Park brings $104 million and jobs to region
A recent National Park Service report showed that in 2022, 1.4 million visitors went to the Shenandoah National Park and spent $104 million in communities near the park.
The cumulative benefit on the economy totaled $145 million and supported 1,240 jobs.
Superintendent of Shenandoah National Park Pat Kenney said, “Visitors to Shenandoah National come seeking opportunities to learn, recreate, relax, and build community. We recognize that tourism has an effect on the local economy, and we strive to provide an excellent visit experience to inspire visitors to continue to return to the area for generations to come.”
Nationally, the report shows $23.9 billion in direct spending by nearly 312 million visitors supporting 378,000 jobs.
A link to an interactive tool to explore visitor spending, labor income, and other trending data is available here.
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Shenandoah takes top rank in National Park reviews
For National Parks Week, Travel Lemming, an online travel guide with over 10 million annual readers, ranked all 63 National Parks from around the country.
Taking home the #1 ranking based on their data-backed review process was Virginia’s only entry to the list, Shenandoah National Park.
Rankings consisted of data from six different categories including affordability, accessibility, biodiversity, crowds, reviews, and weather.
SNP took home the top overall rating with exceptional scores in 3 categories.
The park was ranked 2nd in affordability, 6th in biodiversity with over 2500 unique species, and 7th in accessibility due to the easy drive from multiple airports.
SNP was the 19th best reviewed park with an average rating of 4.77 out of 5.
Big name, iconic parks like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite all finished outside the top 15 largely due to complaints of overcrowding and cost of travel.
To view the full rankings, click here.
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National Parks celebrate Public Lands Day
National Parks across the country are celebrating Public Lands Day with free admission today.
There are plenty of options within driving distance including the Shenandoah National Park, Harpers Ferry, and Fort McHenry National Monument among others.
Not only are the parks open for public use, there will also be volunteer opportunities at most parks such as clean ups, pollinator garden planting, and more.
National Public Lands Day is the country’s largest single-day volunteer event.
To learn more or find volunteer opportunities, click here.
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SNP seeks the public’s feedback
Shenandoah National Park (SNP) is seeking feedback on proposed fee increases to be implemented over the next two years.
The proposal does not include an entry fee increase but specific user fees.
Upping fees for campgrounds, group camping as well as backcountry permits.
The additional funds could help to fund improved access to Old Rag Mountain.
These fee increases are expected to also help in maintenance and help to bring upgrades to the park.
Feedback can be left here the comment time ends Sept. 16.
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National Parks are fee free tomorrow Aug.4
Tomorrow Aug. 4 All National Parks will be fee free.
The day was declared fee free for National Parks in Aug. 2020 in honor of the Great American Outdoors Act which designates funds for maintenance in our parks.
The legislation uses funds from energy development and natural gas to help with needed maintenance of parks across the country.
The Fee Free day includes Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive.
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SNP celebrates a number of things this weekend and we benefit
Shenandoah National Park (SNP) will celebrate Juneteenth as well as Neighbor Appreciation Day along with Father’s Day weekend.
All these things will be celebrated at once in the SNP and Skyline Drive on Sat. June 19.
As the Park offers a fee free Saturday tomorrow Jun. 19 and waives all fees to enter the Park and Drive.
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