Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site is back open.

The Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site is back open.  Thanks to help from Iberville Parish and the city of Plaquemine.  The site is open Wednesday – Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  It was all part of a cooperative agreement between the Louisiana Office of State Parks, Iberville Parish and the city of Plaquemine.  Please come by and see us and learn about this historic engineering feat.

Budget Cuts to Impact Louisiana State Historic Sites

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                 

Contact: SharonBroussard

July 20, 2010                                                                                      

 ph. 225-342-5473

Budget Cuts to Impact Louisiana State Historic Sites

 BATON ROUGE – The Office of State Parks is announcing that, due to extensive budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year, five historic sites will be available by appointment only.

“It is unfortunate that we have to diminish the availability of these cultural treasures,” said Dr. Stuart Johnson, Assistant Secretary for the Office of State Parks. “The budget constraints of the last few years have left us with a small number of ‘belt-tightening’ options. Our hope is that we will be able to re-open these sites within the next couple of years.”

Effective July 26, the following State Historic Sites will be placed in ‘caretaker status’:

• Centenary SHS, Jackson
• Fort Jesup SHS, Many
• Fort Pike SHS, New Orleans
• Marksville SHS, Marksville
• Plaquemine Lock SHS, Plaquemine

 Los Adaes and Winter Quarters State Historic Sites were placed in ‘caretaker status’ last year. Visitors to these seven sites will have to contact the sites prior to their visit. Programs at these Historic Sites, as listed on the Louisiana State Parks’ on-line Calendar of Events, will be cancelled. It is always recommended that visitors call ahead, when planning to attend a program, to confirm that the program is still occurring.

For more information regarding Louisiana State Parks, visit http://www.lastateparks.com.

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New Page for the Irishtown Project

Hey folks!

The Novice Birder has flown le coop to make room for a new page for  the Irishtown Archaeology Project. Please visit this page for all the latest information on this collaborative project!

Office of State Parks Announces Revised Fee Structure

BATON ROUGE – The Office of State Parks is adjusting fees on various camping and outdoor recreational facilities at their parks and historic sites. The new pricing will go into effect July 1.

“Recreational opportunities are still a great value at Louisiana’s State Parks and Historic Sites,” says Stuart Johnson, assistant secretary for the Office of State Parks. “Our fees still compare favorably to those offered by other state park systems across the south.

The fee structure, as of July 1, is as follows:

Historic Site Entrance          

$4/person; remains free for seniors 62 and over, children 12 and under.

Swimming Pools                    

Wave Pool – over 48″ $10/person

Wave Pool – under 48″ $8/person

Group Camps                        

Class 1 (30+)   $200/night

Class 2 (50+)   $250/night

Class 3 (100+) $500/night

The new fee structure will also introduce winter and summer rates for the following overnight facilities. Summer season rates will apply nightly for campsites and for Friday and Saturday nights only for Cabins and Lodges. All other camping overnight fees will remain the same.                                                       

Campsites:                 

                              Oct-March                  April-Sept

Improved         $16/night                      $20/night

Premium           $18/night                      $26/night

Cabins:

                              Oct-March                  April-Sept                 

  Standard          $85/night                      $85/night

Deluxe              $120/night                    $150/night

Lodges:                       

                               Oct-March                  April-Sept

Standard          $140/night                    $175/night

Deluxe              $160/night                    $180/night

Revenues from fees go toward improvements at Louisiana State Parks sites, for additional facilities, such as new cabins and visitor centers, and to upgrading current facilities. The increase in fees will allow for a great number of and higher quality improvements at sites around the state.

Existing reservations for overnight accommodations will be honored at the price structure in place when the reservations were originally made. For additional information regarding group, age-defined and other special rates, visit http://www.lastateparks.com.

Lock Logic!

What year was the Lock constructed?

If you are the first person to give the correct answer to the Ranger inside the Lock House, you win a prize! 

Changes to Calendar

Hey folks,

We have changed our calendar of events for July 2010 through June 2011. Please visit our “Calendar of Events” page to see the changes we have made for your enjoyment here at the Lock. If you have any questions about our programs, please contact Kathleen Mocklin at (225) 687-7158.

Hope to see ya!

Music on the River

Join us this Saturday, May 22 from 6-9 pm for Music on the River!

This year we will be featuring Unfinished Business, a local band from Plaquemine.

Be sure to bring your own chairs, blankets, coolers, and refreshments for this event.