News Release

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Continues to Open Park Gate to People Coming to Exercise

Visitor walks along park tour road

NPS

News Release Date: March 26, 2020

Contact: Kristine Abbey, 417-732-2662 x231

Republic, Mo. – Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield will continue to open the park gate during regular operating hours to allow residents to come in for exercise. Entry fees to Wilson’s Creek and all other National Park Service sites currently are waived.

After Greene County Commissioners announced a Stay at Home Order on Wednesday, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield management studied the order and determined that the park will continue to allow visitors access to the park. The decision is based on the order’s restrictions and federal guidance for safe operations of National Park Service sites. Wilson’s Creek law enforcement rangers and other mission-essential staff will be in the park, and we encourage visitors to be aware of and comply with the specific guidelines of the Greene County order regarding exceptions.

The Greene County Stay At Home Order, which went into effect at 12:01 a.m. today (March 26), requires residents to remain at home for 30 days from the start of the order unless the county renews or withdraws it. However, residents may leave home for “essential activities,” including outdoor exercise such as biking, walking, hiking, running, or other physical activities. Visitors to Wilson’s Creek also may bring vehicles through the open park gate during normal operating hours and drive on the tour road to any marked parking area to begin a walk, run, or other physical activity.

Since March 17, Wilsons Creek National Battlefield has allowed visitors to enter open park gates and pay no entry fees during normal operating hours, which currently are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. The park’s temporary visitor center remains closed following operational changes to keep visitors, staff and volunteers safe from the spread of COVID-19.

The park provides regularly sanitized restrooms near the entry gate, including handwashing stations. These facilities are portable toilets. For visitors’ own safety and comfort, the park encourages visitors to prepare before coming to the park, including using restrooms at home, and taking any other precautions necessary to help protect themselves from COVID-19.

If contemplating a visit to Wilson’s Creek or another national park during this pandemic, the NPS asks visitors to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safer and healthier.

The Greene County order requires participants in physical activities to maintain at least a six-foot physical distance from other individuals. The order also recommends that people wash hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or use hand sanitizer, regularly clean high-touch surfaces, and refrain from shaking hands. Other key actions include avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and, most importantly, staying home if you feel sick.

High-risk individuals, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, should take extra precautions and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness. To learn more about current national recommendations concerning COVID-19, visit Coronavirus.gov, CDC.gov/coronavirus, USA.gov/coronavirus, and www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

In response to federal guidance, Wilson’s Creek NB and other NPS sites have closed visitor centers and stopped giving public, face-to-face programs. Many of the staff at NPS sites across the country now are working remotely, based on requirements from the Department of Interior. However, mission-essential personnel including law enforcement rangers and maintenance teams continue to protect and maintain park resources. Parks also are working to provide additional online and virtual activities for children and adults, including those living under stay at home restrictions or in quarantine.

Visit Wilson’s Creek NB website, the park’s Facebook page, and the Trans-Mississippi Theater Virtual Museum to find virtual activities and learn more about the park history, resources, and current conditions.

For updates about NPS operations, visit www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Check with individual parks for specific details about park operations. 

Administered by the National Park Service, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield preserves the site of the first major battle of the Civil War in the West. The Confederate victory on August 10, 1861, focused greater national attention on the war in Missouri, leading to greater federal military action.

Wilson’s Creek Administrative Office is located 10 miles southwest of Springfield, Missouri at 5242 S. State Hwy ZZ, Republic, Missouri 65738.