
Louisiana State Park Glamping Camp Site
A pandemic fueled surge in outdoorsy interest has the state park system closer than ever to being self-sufficient with locals flocking in droves even as the pandemic appears to be subsiding.
State Parks Deputy Assistant Secretary Clifford Melius spoke with LRN about the major increase in interest. He said about six state parks made more money this year than what it costs to operate them.
“We’re well on our way,” said Melius. “Four years ago we were 100% reliant on state general funds and now we are 50/50, and we are extremely proud of that.”
Melius says about 70 percent of their traffic is coming from Louisiana residents and at some parks, they’re booked up to 13 months out.
“We are literally booked solid,” said Melius. “We are running in the high 90% occupancy rates across the state and that is not just the big parks around major metro areas, that is all of the parks statewide.”
Melius credited part of the success to increasing the number of amenities at each park, adding in attractions like horseback riding, canoe vendors, and other draws.
“We make a little money off of it, but it is not really about the money from those vendors, it is really about when people come to the parks they have those other amenities that allow them to stay longer,” said Melius.
Comments