Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is seeking input to discuss possible fee increases in 2015. Currently, park entrance fees at Point Park, on Lookout Mountain, are $3 per person, per day, or $20 for an annual Point Park pass. These fees have been in place since 2002. The proposed entrance fees for Point Park would increase to $7.00 per person, yet the receipt would be valid for seven days and the annual pass would increase to $30. The annual pass entitles the pass holder and three others unlimited visits to the park throughout the year.
In order to improve visitorrelated facilities, all national park entrance fees throughout the United States are being examined through civic engagement.
Entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age or to pass holders of the America the Beautiful: The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series, which includes the Annual Pass, the Senior Pass, the Access Pass, and the Military Pass. These passes may be obtained in the National Park Service visitor centers at Chickamauga Battlefield in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, or at Point Park in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.
“We are committed to keeping the park affordable, and we also want to provide visitors with the best possible experience,” said Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Superintendent Brad Bennett. “As we approach the Centennial of the National Park Service in 2016, revenue from entrance fees will provide critical funding for a variety of enhancements for park visitors.” Past projects supported by entrance fees include producing the park orientation film, rehabilitating the Point Park Visitor Center and museum exhibits, restoring portions of the historic Lookout Mountain Battlefield landscape, and creating new outdoor exhibits on Orchard Knob. Current projects include restoring mountaintop vistas and repairing the iconic New York Peace Monument at Point Park. New revenue from the proposed fee increase would be used to expand visitor programs and services, restore additional portions of the 9,000-acre national park, and produce new, permanent exhibits at the Ochs Museum in Point Park.
The national military park is a strong economic engine for the surrounding area. In 2013, more than 900,000 visitors contributed nearly 55 million dollars to the local economy and supported 771 jobs related to the tourism industry.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is seeking comment about the proposed entrance fees increase through Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015. Public opinion is being collected at the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/chch. During this time, comments may also be submitted in writing to: Park Superintendent, P.O. Box 2128, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 30742
Following the comment period, feedback will determine how, or if, fee increases can be implemented.