First Day of Summer is Free

News Release Date: June 18, 2011

Contact: Eileen Andes, 701-623-4466

First Day of Summer is Free at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Free admission will be offered on Tuesday, June 21 to entice visitors to enjoy warmer weather and spectacular badlands scenery at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.To celebrate the start of the summer season, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees at all parks on the longest day of the year.

Ranger-led interpretive programs have begun and will be offered in the park's North and South Units throughout the summer.The park also offers scenic driving, wildlife watching, hiking, and camping.Portions of the park's two campgrounds are now open; camping fees will also be waived at Theodore Roosevelt National Park on Tuesday.

"The longest day of the year is the perfect time to come to the park," said Superintendent Valerie Naylor."Visitors can take advantage of the extra daylight to enjoy a long hike, observe wildlife, do some outdoor photography, or just spend some time outdoors in the park."

The other two national park units in

North Dakota – Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site near Williston and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton – are among the more than 200 national parks that never charge entrance fees.

National Park Service entrance fees will also be waived on September 24 and November 11-13, 2011.

Information on all 394 national park units nationwide is available at www.nps.gov.For further information regarding activities and events at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, please visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/thro or call 701-623-4466.

-NPS-