Free entrance at all Kansas state parks, along with special events for the family

Mar. 7, 2013 - TOPEKA ­– On Saturday, Mar. 9, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) will host a free entrance day and open houses at all state parks. Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of events at most parks.

During the open houses, park visitors can take advantage of low, off-season camping permit prices. Mar. 31 is the last day annual camping permits are priced at off-season discounts. On Apr. 1, the prices increase to their regular prime-season levels. Visitors can purchase annual camping permits and make cabin or campsite reservations during the open houses, as well. For pricing information, or to purchase permits online, go to the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com. For online permit purchases, click the License/Permits icon. For campsite and cabin reservations, click the Reservations icon.

Kansas motor vehicle owners can now buy an annual park vehicle permit as part of their vehicle registration process. The permit – called a Kansas State Parks Passport – will cost $15.00 (county treasurers can elect to add a $0.50 service fee). This lower-price, non-transferable permit will be available only during the vehicle registration process at a motor vehicle registration office, through the online vehicle registration site at www.kswebtags.org or when registering by mail. The Kansas State Parks Passport will expire when the vehicle registration expires a year later.

Park entry is free on March 9, but persons who would like to buy an annual park permit before they register their vehicles can do so at any KDWPT office, Kansas license vendor or through the KDWPT website, and then request a pro-rated refund for the difference in cost after purchasing their Kansas State Parks Passport.

State parks and their special events are listed below:

Cedar Bluff

Open house: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Park and cabin tours all day

Free hot dog feed: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Refreshments served all day

Cheney

Office open: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for permit sales and to answer questions

Cabin tours

Clinton

Park office open: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. with animal viewing and show-and-tell.

Cabin open house: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Entrance gate open: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Crawford

Park office open: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for permit sales

Cabin tours

Courtesy boat inspections upon request

Cross Timbers & Fall River

Park office, Toronto Point gate, and Fredonia Bay gate: open 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cabin open houses at both parks: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Trail hikes at each cabin beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Eisenhower

Open house: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cabin open for viewing

Hot dogs and refreshments

5K Run/Walk sponsored by Osage City Warmth Fund

Games

El Dorado

Park office open: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Courtesy boat inspections upon request

Two skins and skull programs: 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Cabin tours available upon request and availability

Elk City

Park office open: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Events run from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

One-mile nature hike

Fishing derby at kids fishing pond

Geocaching

Free hot dog feed: noon – 1:00 p.m.

Drawings for prizes

Glen Elder

Park office and cabin open: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Hillsdale

Park office open: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for permit sales and to answer questions

Shooting range open for questions: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Kanopolis

Park office open: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Cabin open house: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Lovewell

Park office open: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Cabin tours: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lovewell and Glen Elder fishing presentation: 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Willow Group Shelter

Lovewell Marina open all day to serve refreshments

Meade

Open house: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cabin and campsite reservation system information

Refreshments served all day

Milford

Park office open: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Courtesy boat inspections at the office

Cabin open for tours upon request and availability

Coffee and cookies

Perry

Coffee and cookies at park office: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cabin open

Car show: 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at office parking lot

Pomona

Park office open: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. for permit sales

Cabin tours: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

RV Show hosted by Olathe Ford RV

Disc golf

Scavenger hunt

Personal watercraft simulator

Easter egg hunt: 1:00 p.m.

Food vendors on site

Lighthouse Bay Marina open

Prairie Dog

Open house: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cabin and Adobe House tours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Prairie Spirit Trail

City of Iola, Riverside Park: 8:00 a.m. – noon

Allen County Thrive PowerPoint on trail extension

Franklin County CVB, Garnett Chamber, Iola Chamber presentations

Allen County Hospital blood pressure and BMI evaluation

Snacks by Friends of Prairie Spirit Trail

Lake Scott

Open house and all events: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cookies and punch

Cabin tours

Slide show of park pictures

State Parks Passport information

Requirements for senior fishing licenses

Tuttle Creek

Park office open: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Courtesy boat inspections: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sioux Cabin open: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Instructional archery shooting, Nihart Range: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Skins/skulls/trapping, Nihart Range: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Coffee and cookies

Trout fishing at Willow Lake (to be stocked Mar. 7). Applicable licenses and permits required.

Webster

Open house: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Boat show in Old Marina Cove: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

BBQ grill demonstrations: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Traeger Grills at Lakeview Shelter #5

Green Mountain Grills at Townsite Shelter

Ozark Mountain Grills at Hill Top Shelter

Wilson

Park office open: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for permit sales

Cabin open for tours

For more information, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “State Parks.”