News Release

Big Thicket National Preserve Welcomed Record Number of Visitors in 2018

Date: March 8, 2019
Contact: Jason Ginder, 409-951-6700

Big Thicket National Preserve saw record visitation in 2018, recording 221,514 visits, a 23% increase over the previous year. The preserve saw a notable increases in visitation to day-use areas and other access points along the Neches River, while an extremely wet 2018 led to a decrease in backcountry camping use.  “The preserve has so much to offer.” stated Big Thicket National Preserve Superintendent Wayne Prokopetz. “Since 1974, the preserve has welcomed visitors to hunt, fish, hike, camp, and explore.”

To truly “see” the preserve, you must venture away from the modern conveniences of automobile travel and take a close look at the small things. The preserve offers over 40 miles of developed hiking trails, suitable for all skill levels. Numerous creeks and rivers offer visitors the opportunity to kayak and canoe on over 100 miles of accessible waterways. For the more adventurous visitors, backcountry camping opportunities are available in most units of the preserve. Birding, photography, hunting, and fishing are just a few of the other common activities visitors enjoy.

“We are excited that more people are discovering the unique value this preserve has to offer,” stated Big Thicket National Preserve Superintendent Wayne Prokopetz. 

Nationwide, the 418 Units of the National Park Service received more than 318.2 million recreation visits, marking the third highest since record-keeping began in 1994. “America’s national parks are national treasures that tell the story of our nation and celebrate its beauty, history and culture,” said Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “I am pleased that so many Americans and visitors from around the world continue to take advantage of the affordable and accessible recreational opportunities provided by these sites.” 

For an in-depth look at 2018 visitation, including individual park figures, please visit the NPS Social Science web site.

Big Thicket National Preserve is located in southeast Texas, near the city of Beaumont and 75 miles northeast of Houston. The preserve consists of nine land units and six water corridors encompassing more than 113,000 acres. The Big Thicket, often referred to as a “biological crossroads,” is a transition zone between four distinct vegetation types – the moist eastern hardwood forest, the southwestern desert, the southeastern swamp, and the central prairies. Species from all of these different vegetation types come together in the thicket, exhibiting a variety of vegetation and wildlife that has received global interest. 

For general information about Big Thicket National Preserve, visit www.nps.gov/bith or call the preserve visitor center at 409-951-6700. Visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigThicketNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/BigThicketNPS, and Instagram www.instagram.com/BigThicketNPS.