Doing Business with the Park

Commercial Visitor Services

The National Park Service provides visitor services within the park that are necessary and appropriate for visitor use and enjoyment. The guidance in the Commercial Services Plan is used to determine if a commercial service meets these criteria. This plan can be downloaded from the Current Documents webpage.

A Commercial Visitor Activity is defined as a business that:

• provides an activity or service to the general public
• takes place at least in part in any park unit; and,
• results in income, compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit to an individual entity, whether or not the individual or entity is recognized as non-profit under applicable laws.

Commercial Visitor Services are authorized through concession contracts or commercial use authorizations (CUAs).

NOTE: If you are an individual who is planning a special event or activity in the park that does not result in the receipt of income, you are exempt from the commercial use authorization process. However, a Special Use Permit may be required to conduct certain special events and other non-commercial activities. More information can be found on the Special Use Permits webpage.

Authorized Concessioner

Concessioners fill a vital role with helping the National Park Service (NPS) carry out its mission. Private companies work with the NPS to offer necessary and appropriate services to park visitors that parks do not provide directly. By welcoming the private sector as a partner in park operations, the NPS broadens the economic base of the region and the communities surrounding parks. The Commercial Services Program administers nearly 500 concession contracts that, in total, gross over $1 billion annually. NPS concessioners employ more than 25,000 people in a variety of jobs during peak seasons, providing services ranging from food and lodging, to whitewater rafting adventures, motor coach tours and others.

Opportunties at Cape Lookout:
A Concession Business Opportunity to Provide Passenger Ferry Service to the South Core Banks and Shackleford Banks and Land Transportation on the South Core Banks