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Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005
Back-to-back fee free days, on September 27 and 28, will be celebrated at Olympic National Park this year. Both days are part of nationwide celebrations at national parks and other public lands. National Public Lands Day will be celebrated on Saturday, September 27, when Olympic National Park will join other National Park Service areas and other federal land management agencies in waiving entrance fees. Other park fees, including wilderness camping and campground fees, will remain in effect. On the following day, Sunday, September 28, entrance fees will again be waived for all visitors, in honor and recognition of our country’s newly naturalized citizens. “We invite our neighbors and visitors – and especially any of our newest citizens – to enjoy Olympic during this special weekend,” said Superintendent Karen Gustin. “We hope these two days will create lasting memories for our visitors, and the inspiration to enjoy Olympic and other national parks, again and again.” Newly naturalized citizens are invited to identify themselves at entrance stations or visitors centers, so they may receive a welcome packet to the national parks for new citizens of the United States. Ranger-led education programs will be offered each of these days at Hurricane Ridge, Hoh, Kalaloch and Mora. The park’s visitor centers will be open, including the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles, the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center and the Hoh Visitor Center, along with the Forks, Kalaloch and Storm King information centers. Programs will be offered on Saturday only at Lake Crescent, Quinault and Sol Duc. For a full listing of programs, visitors may consult area bulletin boards. On July 4, 2008, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne extended a special welcome to newly naturalized citizens, saying, “Our National Parks celebrate the story of America,: our history, our heroes and the ideals upon which we build our future. With this invitation, I want to give our newest citizens, those who have chosen to adopt America as their home, a chance to come and experience those pieces of America for themselves.” National Public Lands Day recognizes the diversity and importance of the nation’s public lands. Participating are nine federal land management agencies, along with state, county, and city governments throughout the country. Olympic National Park was established in 1938 and protects over 922,000 acres of wilderness forest, coastline and mountains. The park receives over three million visits each year. |
Last updated: January 12, 2018