News Release

Natchez National Historical Park is beginning to increase recreational access

Date: June 26, 2020
Contact: Kathleen Bond, [phone]

[Natchez, Mississippi] – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Natchez National Historical Park is increasing recreational access and services. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide 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 July 8, 2020, Natchez National Historical Park will reopen access to:

• The grounds at the 80-acre Melrose estate, #1 Melrose Montebello Parkway. The grounds of this National Historic Landmark will be open to the public seven days a week from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The park has designed a self-guided tour of the estate grounds that is an easy .7-mile walk and follows gravel roads or paved paths for almost the entire route. Narration at the various stops acknowledges the diversity of people who lived and worked at the estate. Visitors will be able to use their cell phones to access written, audio, and photographic information at specific points identified by sandwich boards with QR codes along this route. There is never an entrance fee for the grounds at Melrose.

The following spaces continue to be available:

• The open spaces at the Fort are Rosalie site along South Canal Street. The picnic area along Green Street near the ruins of the French fort remains open from dawn until dusk, and the wayside exhibit panels for Fort Rosalie are easily accessible along the South Canal Street sidewalk. Their messaging is presented in both English and French. Fort Rosalie has no entrance fee.

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed to the public at this time:

• All interior spaces at the Melrose estate, including public restrooms. The William Johnson House site.
• The administrative offices of Natchez National Historical Park.

• A more complete list is found on the park website.

“We encourage visitors who come out to enjoy our new self-guided grounds tour at Melrose to wear lightweight clothing and comfortable shoes, and to bring water with them,” said Kathleen Bond, park superintendent. “It is the warmest time of the year, and the limited opening of the park’s Adaptive Recovery Phase I will not provide access to the interior of any building or to public restrooms - though hand sanitizer will be available outside the Visitor Center. All visitors are encouraged to wear facial coverings within 6 feet of others, if social distancing is not possible, and to remain at home if they do not feel well.”

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Natchez National Historical Park, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance, and these will be regularly monitored. We continue to work 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, practice Leave No Trace principles to remove their trash from areas, 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.
Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website, https://www.nps.gov/natc, and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.