By MELINDA WILLIAMS
melinda@southwesttimes.com
Attendance rose by nearly 20,000 people at Claytor Lake State Park in 2011, boosting the area economy by over $8 million, according to Virginia State Parks figures released Tuesday afternoon.
A total of 285,835 visitors were recorded at the park in 2011, compared to 265,875 in 2010. Total economic impact is reported to be $8,054,360.
According to Jim Meisner Jr., public relations specialist for Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia State Parks as a whole saw near record attendance during 2011, which marked the 75th anniversary of the Virginia State Park system.
The overall 2011 attendance for all state parks was 7,836,246 – the second highest in the state park system’s history. The record high attendance, 8,065,558, was recorded in 2010.
Meisner attributed increases in many parks’ 2011 attendance to special events developed to mark the park system’s anniversary.
As a whole, Virginia’s state parks experienced a record number of overnight visitors in 2011. Overnight stays in cabins, campgrounds and lodges increased 3 percent, from 1,022,698 to 1,055,875, from 2010 to 2011.
However, Meisner said Claytor Lake’s overnight stays dropped slightly, from 60,208 in 2010 to 59,000 last year.
Daytime attendance at Claytor Lake rose from 205,667 to 226,835 in the same timeframe, he added.
State Parks Director Joe Elton said, “Daily attendance increased in nearly half of our 35 parks. Virginia State Parks remain a primary vacation destination for millions of people looking for affordable opportunities to enjoy Virginia’s great outdoors.”
Meisner points out that since state parks generally are in less developed areas, they remain an important economic stimulant in rural communities.
“Our state parks continue to be an excellent investment for the state,” said Elton. “Our parks help generate more than $10 to the local economy for every $1 of general fund money allocated to state parks in the state budget.”
Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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