State Parks News

This page lists all state parks news releases and blogs. Use the dropdown to filter by park or section.

Five Western N.C. State Parks to Reopen Nov. 1, Eight Parks to Remain Closed

Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park
Crowders Mountain, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain and Lake Norman state parks, as well as Rendezvous Mountain, will reopen at least partially on Nov. 1.

A Letter From Our Director

Bobs Creek State Natural Area, Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Pisgah View State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Mountain Region, Marketing and Communications, Office of the Director, Operations
State Parks Director Brian Strong provides additional information on post-Helene rescue and recovery efforts and the status of western state parks.

State Parks Closures Through October, All Programming Canceled Across the State

Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park
All North Carolina state parks west of Interstate 77 are closed through at least Oct. 31.

State Parks Closures Due to Hurricane Helene, Including Monarch Festival Cancellation

Gorges State Park, Mount Mitchell State Park, Mountain Region
Due to expected impacts of Hurricane Helene, Gorges State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park will be closed Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27. The Mountain Monarch Festival at Gorges, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, has been cancelled.

New State Law Provides Free State Parks Annual Passes for Veterans with Disabilities

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Access
Veterans with service-related disabilities are now eligible to apply to receive a free Annual Pass to N.C. State Parks.

New State Law Provides Free State Parks Annual Passes for Veterans with Disabilities

Carolina Beach State Park, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Hammocks Beach State Park, Hanging Rock State Park, Jones Lake State Park, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Merchants Millpond State Park, Morrow Mountain State Park, William B Umstead State Park, Marketing and Communications, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Access, Operations
Veterans with service-related disabilities are now eligible to apply to receive a free Annual Pass to North Carolina State Parks.

Gorges State Park to Host Third Annual Mountain Monarch Festival Sept. 28

Gorges State Park
Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will host its third annual Mountain Monarch Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park’s visitor center. The festival celebrates the monarch butterfly during its migration and bring attention to the species’ declining numbers.

Erin Brown Joins David Mumford to Lead Falls Lake State Recreation Area

Falls Lake State Recreation Area
The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced that Erin Brown has been named a superintendent at Falls Lake State Recreation Area.

230 Acres of Land Added to Mount Mitchell State Park

Mount Mitchell State Park
The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with The Conservation Fund and 130 of Chatham, LLC, announced the completion of an acquisition that protects 238.14 acres of high-elevation land that has long been identified as critical acreage in Mount Mitchell State Park’s land protection plan.

Brock Martin Promoted to Jordan Lake State Recreation Area Superintendent

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Brock Martin has been named the new lead park superintendent at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area in Chatham County.

Colton Blake Named New Lake Norman State Park Superintendent

Lake Norman State Park
Colton Blake has been named the new park superintendent at Lake Norman State Park, located in Iredell County.

Michael Wood Promoted to Stone Mountain State Park Superintendent

Stone Mountain State Park
The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced that Michael Wood is the new park superintendent at Stone Mountain State Park in Wilkes and Alleghany counties.

Public Input Opportunity for Pisgah View State Park Master Plan

Pisgah View State Park
The third public information meeting for the Pisgah View State Park Master Plan will be held Thursday, Aug. 1, from 5-7 p.m. at the Upper Hominy Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, 1795 Pisgah Highway in Candler

N.C. State Parks Partners with Waypoint Adventure to Provide Adaptive Recreation Programs at Select Parks

Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mountain Region, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Access
The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation announced a new partnership with Waypoint Adventure, based in Black Mountain, N.C., to provide adaptive recreation programs for visitors with disabilities.

Tent and RV Campsites, Shelter Closed at Medoc Mountain State Park for Renovations

Medoc Mountain State Park, Coastal Plain Region
The tent, trailer, and RV campsites and the picnic shelter at Medoc Mountain State Park In Halifax County were closed June 3 for at least 12 months due to construction.