News Release

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument Visitor Center Reopens

Date: June 24, 2020
Contact: Eric Smith, 508-857-3151

Fritch, Texas – Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, in response to national state and local heath guidelines, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts in regards to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

June 29, 2020, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument will further reduce restrictions and remaining closures that were put in place in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument Visitor Center will be open 7 days per week starting Monday June 29, 2020. Visitor Center hours will be from 9 am to 4 pm daily. Visitors are reminded to follow social distancing guidelines and not visit the park if you are experiencing symptoms related to the COVID-19 virus. The Alibates Visitor Center is small and staff will direct when groups or individuals may enter in order to maintain social distancing ability for all visitors and staff.

The Alibates Flint Quarries guided tour will be available for visitors beginning Monday June 29, 2020. Two tours a day are offered and they are at 10 am and 1 pm. Reservations for the tour are not required but encouraged as tour size is limited. Visitors are encouraged to call 806-857-6680 to ensure tour availability.

The National Park Service headquarters building located in Fritch will be open to visitors starting Monday June 29, 2020. Hours of operation are 8 am to 4:30 pm.

As of June 29, 2020 at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, all services and operations that were suspended in order to comply with the Texas and local health guidance regarding COVID-19 response will have been restored.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We will notify the public if conditions force restrictions or closures to be put back into place and provide updates on our website https://www.nps.gov/lamr/index.htm and social media channels.

If contemplating a visit to a national park during this pandemic, the NPS asks visitors to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safer and healthier.

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area Superintendent, Eric Smith, would like to thank visitors for their patience and understanding about the temporary closures that the park had to make in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are working closely with local, state and national health officials to keep closures as minimal and least disruptive as possible while still helping prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to work closely with health officials so we are prepared in the event that closures or restrictions are once again necessary.

Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations. Visitors who had made reservations from the April 7, 2020 camping closure through May 18, 2020 for the 10 campsites at Sanford Yake Campground that are managed through Wright on Bait and Tackle should contact [phone] for refund.