News Release

The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Parks are increasing recreational access starting on June 15, 2020

Date: June 15, 2020

Gaffney, SC – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Ninety Six National Historic Site (NHS), Cowpens National Battlefield (NB), and Kings Mountain National Military Park (NMP) are increasing recreational access. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.
Beginning Monday, June 15, 2020, the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Parks will increase access to the following during normal operational hours:

• Cowpens NB tour road for motorized vehicles.
• Cowpens NB restrooms located near visitor center and picnic area.
• Ninety Six NHS Star Fort Pond area including: parking, boat launch, fishing pier, shore fishing. Fishing is allowed 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, now through November 1.
• Ninety Six NHS restrooms located near visitor center.
• Kings Mountain NMP restrooms located near visitor center.

In addition, the following spaces continue to be available at all sites:
• Grounds, trails, parking lots

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed to the public at this time:
• All park visitor centers
• Ninety Six Star Fort Pond area - no portable restrooms/wash stations

“We are looking forward to increasing access to the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Parks. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be our number one priority,” stated Acting Superintendent Sarah Cunningham. 
“We encourage park users to visit responsibly, take all necessary precautions, and follow established guidance to help us keep our parks safe.”

For the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Parks, our operational approach will continue to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. The park is working closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers. While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Please check park websites and social media for more specific details about park operations: www.nps.gov/nisi; www.nps.gov/cowp; www.nps.gov/kimo; www.nps.gov/ovvi; www.facebook.com/CowpensNationalBattlefield; www.facebook.com/kingsmountainNPS; www.facebook.com/ninetysixNPS; and www.nps.gov/overmountainvictoryNHT for specific details about park operations.