Fort Vancouver National Historic Site fee increase now in effect

Posted

The entrance fee to the reconstructed Fort Vancouver at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (NHS) has increased from $5 to $7 for an individual, according to a release from the national site. 

The entrance fee would remain valid for reentrance for seven days. The park's annual pass would remain at $30 in 2018, and will continue to allow admittance of four adults. 

This fee increase affects the reconstructed stockade site only, the release stated. Access to park grounds, trails, roads, and facilities outside of the reconstructed stockade will remain free of charge, including the Visitor Center and Pearson Air Museum, and the national park's green space, including the Parade Ground, Great Meadow, and the waterfront at Vancouver. In addition, the McLoughlin and Barclay Houses and the park they are situated on at the national park's McLoughlin House Unit in Oregon City, Oregon, will also remain free. 

The entrance fee increase is part of a larger National Park Service initiative to standardize fees in similar national parks across the country, the release stated. Entrance fees have been collected at Fort Vancouver NHS for more than 20 years. 

From Aug. 1 to Sept. 4, the National Park Service accepted public comments on this change through its website, through comment cards at the national park's Visitor Center, and via mail, according to the release. 

At National Park Service sites, where fees are collected, 80 to 100 percent of fees collected remain at the site to support projects with a direct visitor connection, the release stated. Parks can propose projects and compete service-wide from the remaining 20 percent of fees collected. At Fort Vancouver NHS, the additional revenue from the fee increase will be used to enhance visitor services, including repair and maintenance of park facilities, rehabilitation of visitor service buildings, and repair and replacement of equipment and materials to enhance park programming and special events. 



"This entrance fee increase to the reconstructed fort will allow us to better fund projects that will serve our visitors," Superintendent Tracy Fortmann stated in the release. "Fee revenue allows for many different kinds of projects — like improving buildings, creating new park maps, and building accessible trails. It also helps us to keep facilities at the park maintained and in working order for the many visitors who come to the fort every day, for field trips, and for our special events." 

Entrance fees are not charged to individuals under 16 years of age or holders of the America the Beautiful — National Parks and Federal Recreational Annual, Senior, Access, or Military passes, according to the release. 

In 2016, over 1 million visitors visited Fort Vancouver NHS, the release stated. In 2015, park visitors spent $46.9 million in communities near the park, supporting 792 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative economic benefit to the community of $65.7 million.

— Fort Vancouver National Historic Site