NPS Photo While Ozark National Scenic Riverways does not charge an entrance fee, our campgrounds and cave tours collect fees that directly support the park experience. Your fee dollars are put to work by improving campgrounds, maintaining historic structures, funding visitor services, and more! How Fee Dollars WorkSince 2004, the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) allows fee collection at U.S. recreation sites to provide funds for direct enhancements to the visitor experience. Funds can be used to support visitor enjoyment, interpretation, habitat restoration, and law enforcement. Between 80 and 100 percent of fees are retained by the park where they are collected. In addition, balances can be carried over from year to year, allowing more effective use of funds. Which Projects Were Funded by FLREA?Starting in 2025, the park plans to add signage to facilities that have been built or supported by fee dollars. In the meantime, check out a list of projects below! 2023 FLREA Projects For this project, the vault toilet at Hickory Landing was demolished and replaced with a new, modular concrete unit. This new construction supports visitors who use the restroom during camping, boating, hunting, etc. Like other vault toilets, this building is typically open year-round.
The old unit was outdated and damaged after previous floods. This new unit offers multiple advantages:
Round Spring Cave is one of the jewels of the upper Current River. Every year, visitors to the cave learn about geology, wildlife, local history, and hydrology. This project rehabilitated the bridge to Round Spring Cave, just before the 2023 summer season. Thanks to their work, visitors were able to enjoy cave tours for the first time since 2020.
Round Spring Cave is one of the few locations in the park that collects fees. The majority of these fees stay in the park, helping us operate the cave through facility maintenance and supplies. These fees also contribute to other park projects, like trails and campground improvements. This project allowed crews to clean, repair, and improve bulletin boards around the park. These boards provide visitor information year-round through brochures, park maps, and bulletins. In addition, this project supported the construction of 5 new information boards. This project established three years of youth support to construct three trails within the park. These trails were constructed as part of the Roads & Trails Plan.
Just like the Hickory Landing project, the vault toilet at Clubhouse Campground was demolished and replaced with a new, modular concrete unit. This new construction supports visitors who use the restroom during camping, floating, boating, hunting, etc. Like other vault toilets, this building is typically open year-round. The old unit was outdated and damaged after previous floods. This new unit offers multiple advantages:
Photo Gallery OZAR Fee Dollars at Work3 Images A selection of projects funded via the Fees program at OZAR. 2022 FLREA ProjectsThis renovation took place at the Big Spring CCC Historic District, near Van Buren. This historic wood-and-stone entrance station was improved to serve as a visitor center and information hub. Now, this building serves as the park's primary contact station in winter.
Apart from improving visitor services, this project helped to preserve the building for future generations. Many of the improvements will protect the structure against the elements. For this project, the vault toilet at the Akers group sites was demolished and replaced with a new, modular concrete unit. This new construction supports visitors who use the restroom during camping, boating, hunting, etc. Like other vault toilets, this building is typically open year-round.
This upgrade was necessary to provide the public with safe drinking water at the Gooseneck Campground. Funding supported the following steps:
This project directly supported the visitor experience by repairing the Alley Spring picnic shelter. These improvements not only made the shelter more attractive, but they helped prevent more costly repairs in the future. The following work was completed:
These funds purchased three portable message signs, which are used to improve safety along park roadways during special events or projects. When vehicular traffic flow may be impacted, these signs are deployed and display messages such as "slow traffic ahead," "watch for bikers," etc. For this project, the vault toilet at Sinking Creek was demolished and replaced with a new, modular concrete unit. This new construction supports visitors who use the restroom during camping, boating, hunting, etc. Like other vault toilets, this building is typically open year-round. This new unit offers multiple advantages:
For this project, the vault toilet at Bay Creek was demolished and replaced with a new, modular concrete unit. This new construction supports visitors who use the restroom during camping, boating, hunting, etc. Like other vault toilets, this building is typically open year-round. This new unit offers multiple advantages:
For this project, the vault toilet at Big Tree was demolished and replaced with a new, modular concrete unit. This new construction supports visitors who use the restroom during camping, boating, hunting, etc. Like other vault toilets, this building is typically open year-round.
This project funded the replacement of the Pin Oak vault toilet. The old structure was demolished and replaced with a new, modular concrete unit. This new construction supports visitors who use the restroom during camping, boating, hunting, etc. Like other vault toilets, this building is typically open year-round.
2021 FLREA ProjectsDuring the 2017 flood, the log cabin store at Two Rivers was destroyed. A large concrete slab was left behind, which sat unused while a temporary store was placed on higher ground. This project funded the construction of handrails to convert this slab into an observation platform/picnic area.
This project completely revamped the Pulltite Amphitheater, which is used for interpretive programs during the summer months:
This project enhanced the amphitheater area at Round Spring, which is used for interpretive programs during the summer months:
2020 FLREA ProjectsThis project preserved a piece of local Ozark history. Pulltite Cabin is a historic structure located next to Pulltite Spring, on the upper Current River. The building was in imminent danger of structural failure, leading to the repair of roofing and flooring components. These measures not only stabilized the structure, but they created a more weather resistant environment for the interior of the structure. Alley Spring Amphitheater is one of the most popular locations for interpretive programs within the park. During the summer months, rangers use this location to present on cultural and natural resources. However, this building was in need of complete rehabilitation:
This project provided for visitor safety by repairing and rehabilitating the Alley Spring Overlook Trail viewing platform. This platform, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is located at the peak of the trail. This trail overlooks Alley Spring, Alley Mill, and the surrounding area. However, the platform was deteriorating and crumbling. Countless visitors use this trail (and the trail below) throughout the year, making the following repairs necessary:
The platform is now once again stable, seeing daily usage from hundreds to thousands of visitors each summer. During the 2017 flood event, the Powder Mill Campground was effectively destroyed. This project funded the extensive rehabilitation needed to open the campground:
The campground is now open again, seeing frequent visitation throughout the year. Pre-2020 Projects Funded by FeesThe following tabs give examples of other projects that fee dollars fund here at OZAR. These projects are crucial to operation and enjoyment of the park. Thank you for supporting our parks! Throughout the years, multiple campground facilities have been replaced/improved through fee dollar projects. A few examples include the following:
Trails require routine maintenance and improvement as time goes on. Thanks to your fee dollars, the park can fund various projects keeping trails attractive and functional:
As with any building, our contact stations require upkeep for a quality visitor experience! Improvements can take a number of forms, but these are the most common:
As the park grows, general improvements are made to facilities and public access. These are just a few examples of enhancements funded by fee dollars:
Fee dollars can also be used to support education and interpretation in the park. Whether it's improving facilities or funding interpretive products, these projects help our visitors learn about the natural and cultural resources of the area:
When necessary, funding can be used for urgent improvements:
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Last updated: November 21, 2024