Lifetime National Park Fee is being raised!

Good morning everyone! I hope this finds you all well. If you’re anything like the bosslady and I, you like our nation’s national parks. They are a wonderful testament to the foresight of our national leaders of a bygone era. Yellowstone National Park was our nation’s first national park, established in 1872. They were established “as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” For the enjoyment of the people. To me, this simple statement embodies our national park system. A system of parks, monuments, and reservations that provide rest and relaxation for us, and learning opportunities for our children and grand-children. The nation’s National Park Service (NPS) was founded in 1916.

And that brings me to today’s headline.  The price of the Lifetime Senior Pass is being raised from $10.00 to $80.00.  This new price goes into effect on August 28, 2017.  The last time the price was raised was 23 years ago, in 1994.  Why $80.00, because the Lifetime Senior Pass is equal to the cost of the annual “America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass” which will set you back $80.00.  While only 118 of the 417 national parks charge a fee, it is still a good deal for a lifetime pass.

On a fixed budget and $80.00 is too much at one time?  The NPS also has an annual senior pass for $20.00.  If you buy four annual passes consecutively, they can be traded for a lifetime pass.  So keep your receipts!

Need more information?  visit the National Park Service website and their F.A.Q. section for more info.  Too bad for me and the boss lady, we’ll be hit by the higher fees; but it will still be worth it!