Management

Superintendent's Letter

Welcome to Amistad National Recreation Area! I have been the Superintendent here since August of 2015. This unit of the National Park Service is a real treasure.

My staff works hard to improve visitor services so you can enjoy your visit to the fullest! We have upgraded four of the five comfort stations (restrooms) in the recreation area, which have a major impact on a visitor’s experiences.

This includes the renovation of the two restrooms at Diablo East and the two at Rough Canyon. These facilities meet energy efficient mandates, Americans with Disabilities Act mandates, and all new building life, safety & health codes.

The restrooms have baby-changing stations, waterless urinals, low-water use toilets, and energy efficient lights. The upgrades were made with monies from Lake Use Passes and funding from the National Park Service Regional Office in Lakewood, Colorado.

Solar-powered lights were installed at the upper Diablo East parking lots, which enable fishermen to have lighting when parking their vehicles & trailers in the lot when they get an early start to fish in the morning and provide for safety in the evening when they return.

Other improvements included installing animal-proof trash cans throughout the park, replacing missing shade shelters, installing picnic tables for persons who have disabilities, the renovation of Governor’s Landing campground, and the removal of approx. 2,000 tires from the lakeshore.

Our intention is to continue to make improvements for the enjoyment of present and future generations of visitors. In the fall of 2021, we will start on a major project to replace the deteriorating water line at Diablo East, so there is a reliable water system for years to come.

Our plans in the future include replacing the tire breakwater system with a system constructed of a concrete breakwater with galvanized steel to better endure environmental degradation, resulting in improved safety to boaters and lower wave action.

I hope you get the chance to visit your national park firsthand and experience what it has to offer. There are opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, waterskiing, scuba diving, hiking, and hunting. With all there is to offer, Amistad is truly an amazing place!

For help planning your visit, continue to explore our website or call our visitor center at [phone].

Chris Ryan