White Sands National Monument to Waive Entrance Fees

 White Sands National Monument to Waive Entrance Fees

Alamogordo, NM –White Sands National Monument will join 390 other national
parks across American and offer three fee-free weekends during this summer.

“We want to encourage everyone to visit White Sands National Monument this
summer,” said Superintendent Kevin Schneider. “During these tough
economic times, this is a great opportunity for families to explore the
spectacular geology, plants and animals, and the incredible night sky of
the White Sands for free.”

The entrance fees will be waived on the following weekends:
June 20-21 (Father’s Day Weekend), 2009
July 18-19, 2009
August 15-16, 2009

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the National Park
Service would host the fee-free weekends during a June 2 visit to Cuyahoga
Valley National Park in Ohio. The intent is to encourage Americans to visit
their national parks and to promote local and regional tourism.

During these weekends, White Sands National Monument will waive the $3
entrance fee per adult (anyone age 16 or older). The entrance stations will
be open and staff will be available to provide maps, answer questions, and
sell annual passes. The fee waiver does not include other fees such as for
camping or special use permits.

White Sands National Monument hosts a free ranger guided nature walk called
the Sunset Stroll every evening at 7:00 PM. Visitors meet the ranger at
the Sunset Stroll Trailhead located 5 miles from the Entrance Station on
the Dunes Drive.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings at 8:30 PM,
there is also a free evening program at the amphitheatre in the Heart of
the Dunes.

A variety of topics are offered, including: Plant
Adaptations; Geology of the White Sands; Ranching, Railroads, Mining,
Monument, and Murder: the Tularosa Basin at the Turn of the 20th Century;
White Sands WILD Wildlife. Both the Sunset Stroll and the evening program are free programs.

The bookstore at White Sands National Monument will also offer 20% off all
merchandise during these three weekends. The Western National Parks
Association (managers of the bookstore) is pleased to offer the discount in
support of the National Park Service and this unique opportunity for the
public.

More information on the fee waivers and concession discounts can be found at: http://nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm