Catoctin Mountain Park Will Increase Facility and Permit Fees Beginning June 1

Date: May 26, 2015
Contact: Superintendent Mel Poole, 301-663-9330

Thurmont,MD -Catoctin Mountain Park will begin charging increased campground fees on June 1, 2015.

In the fall of 2014, the National Park Service conducted a nationwide review of entrance, facility and permit fees. To solicit public input, Catoctin Mountain Park launched a civic engagement campaign in December 2014.The public was largely supportive of fee increases during this comment period. Only two formal comments were received, and while these expressed disappointment at the fee increases they were not strongly opposed.

"Fees are critical to caring for the park," Catoctin Mountain Park Superintendent Mel Poole said. "One-hundred percent of fees collected stay here in the park and are put to work improving facilities and services important to visitors."

Fees have supported a wide range of projects that improve visitor experiences, including rehabilitating trails and trailhead signs, developing and installing exhibits in visitor centers, improving park water systems, providing ranger-led programs, and improving accessibility for disabled visitors. Additional revenue from this fee increase will continue to upgrade Visitor Center exhibits and restore historic cabins.

Catoctin Mountain Park Facility Fees
Facility	Fee per Night	Fee Amount (2014)	Fee Amount (2015)	Percent Change
Misty Mount	Cabin	$45.00	$50.00	11.1%
Misty Mount	Lodge/ Cabin 16	$95.00	$100.00	5.2%
Misty Mount	Dining Hall (Fri.-Sun.)	$355.00	$360.00	1.4%
Misty Mount	Dining Hall (Mon.- Thur.)	$105.00	$110.00	4.7%
Round Meadow	(Pkg. 1) 3 Dorms, Dining Hall, Gym	$1105.00	$980.00	-11.3%
Round Meadow	(Pkg. 2) 1 Dorm	$175.00	$175.00	0%
Adirondack Shelter	Shelter 1 or 2	$10.00	$10.00	0%
Owens Creek Campground	Camp Site, (1 of 49, 5 person sites.)	$25.00	$30.00	20%
Poplar Grove	Youth Group Campsite (1 of 3, 25 person sites)	$30.00	$35.00	16.6%
Special Park Use Fees
Special Park Use Fees		Application Fee(2014)	Application Fee(2015)	Percent Change
Rock Climbing for groups of 10 or more		$6.00	$6.00	0%
Special Events (Races, Weddings, etc.)		$100.00	$150.00	50%
Construction		$100.00	$300.00	300%

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Catoctin Mountain Park is one of over 400 units administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Correspondence should be addressed to: Superintendent, Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788. Our website address is www.nps.gov/cato.The Visitor Center is open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. daily. Emergency calls should be directed to the National Capital Region Communications Center at 1-866-677-6677.