Press Releases

Operations

Joe Shimel is the new east district superintendent of North Carolina state parks, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Shimel succeeds Sarah Kendrick, who served as acting superintendent beginning in 2020.

Morrow Mountain State Park, Engineering and Construction, Operations

Morrow Mountain family campgrounds, cabins, pool and some trails will be closed between June 2022 and June 2023 for construction and renovation.

Land Protection and Acquisition

Final Acquisition for Bobs Creek State Natural Area complete; made possible by Foothills Conservancy.

Recreation Grants and Outreach

The Parks and Recreation Authority has awarded three local park projects a total of $491,893 in grants from the bequest of Ms. Barbara McIntyre to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF). All three selected projects are in Tier 1 Counties.

Gorges State Park, Operations

Kevin Bischof is the new superintendent of Gorges State Park in Transylvania County, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

Dismal Swamp State Park, Engineering and Construction

Dismal Swamp State Park will be closed for major bridge repairs.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Operations

Crystal Lloyd joins David Mumford as superintendent at Falls Lake State Recreation Area.

Communications and Marketing

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is launching a new online campaign to encourage North Carolinians to get moving and get outside.

Communications and Marketing, Operations

State parks and recreation areas welcomed 19.8 million visitors in 2020 year — 400,000 more than any other year on record and 1.2 million more visitors than in 2019.

Land Protection and Acquisition

The N.C. state parks system now includes 250,000 acres of land and water. Recent acquisitions, including 230 acres for Deep River State Trail and 300 acres for Salmon Creek State Natural Area, brought the system’s acreage up to the new total in late 2020.