Shenandoah National Park expands Neighbor Appreciation Day

Each year Shenandoah National Park staff invite community neighbors to enjoy a fee-free day in the park in celebration of Shenandoah Neighbors’ Day. On June 21, 2014, Shenandoah will waive entrance fees for those residents living in counties bordering the park, including: Albemarle, Augusta, Greene, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, and Warren. Shenandoah Neighbors’ Day is an annual event held on the third Saturday of each June.

This year, the celebration has been expanded to include a “Community Connections Tent” to showcase the rich heritage and activities park neighbors and visitors will find in our surrounding communities. The Community Connections Tent will also showcase the activities our park partners undertake to support Shenandoah National Park.

Superintendent Jim Northup said, “Shenandoah National Park is one part of the fabric of our communities, providing nearly $76 million in economic benefit, as well as health benefits and recreational opportunities. The park’s surrounding communities enrich our lives and our visitors’ experiences through vibrant downtowns, agritourism, and historical resources, including Civil War Battlefields and so much more. Each year we take the opportunity to celebrate our adjacent communities and encourage our neighbors to discover more about the park and other communities by waiving entrance fees. We hope many neighbors will take advantage of the activities offered in the park during Shenandoah Neighbors’ Day.”

Shenandoah National Park’s partners, dnc Parks Resorts at Shenandoah, Inc. and the Shenandoah National Park Association, will welcome park neighbors by providing residents of the nine counties with discounts. DNC, the park’s official concessioner, will provide a 10% discount on select items in their retail stores and a 10% discount on food and some beverage items at all their restaurants. The Shenandoah National Park Association, which supports the interpretive and educational activities of Shenandoah National Park, will offer a 20% discount on all items in their bookstores located in the Dickey Ridge and Byrd visitor centers.

Visitors wishing to take advantage of these discounts will be required to provide proof of residency by showing their Virginia driver’s license.

For more information about planning a trip to Shenandoah National Park or for information about park activities go to www.nps.gov/shen or call the park at (540) 999-3500.