Doing Business With The Park

The National Park Service (NPS) works with private businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals to preserve natural and cultural resources and to create enjoyable experiences for you and millions of park visitors. Learn more about the types of business-related opportunities Natchez Trace Parkway offers.

Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA)

A Commercial Use Authorization allows an individual, group, company or other for-profit entity to commercially operate within a National Park Service area. See Natchez Trace Parkway's commercial use authorization page for more information.

Special Park Uses and Commercial Filming

Often individuals, organizations, and businesses consider national parks appealing settings to hold events, express opinions, shoot commercials or major motion pictures, or photograph models for catalogs or kids for their school pictures. Couples choose national parks as beautiful wedding venues. Families gather to share meals and celebrate the generations. At times, the National Park Service requires permits for activities like these to make sure these activities do not cause unacceptable impacts to a park's natural and cultural resources or unduly interfere with park visitors' access and enjoyment.

A Special Park Use Permit (SUP) can by used by park management to authorize the use of park-managed lands and waters for a variety of activities and uses. With the exception of the sale of printed material (36 CFR 2.52), SUPs are not used to authorize commercial activities. Commercial activities require a commercial use authorization, concession contract, or lease.

Other activities that require special use permits include:

• Special events such as fun runs, large gatherings, concerts, and festivals (36 CFR 2.50)
• Commercial filming and still photography, as well as student filming projects (43 CFR part 5)
• First Amendment activities such as rallies and demonstrations (36 CFR 2.51)
• Right-of-way permits (electric transmission and distribution, telecommunications)
• Grazing and agricultural uses (36 CFR 2.60)
• Other non-visitor activities on park land

To apply for a special use permit, please visit our permit page.

Contact Us

Visit our Our Staff and Offices Page to find the phone numbers of Headquarters employees who may be able to answer your questions about doing business with the park.