It’s like one of those crazy “Christmas in August” sales you used to see in the 1970s and 1980s where the prices are so low, its C-R-A-Z-Y!
Except this time, it’s not Crazy Eddie wearing a Santa hat and yelling about discounted boom-boxes, it’s Department of Interior Secretary David L. Bernhardt offering free entrance fees at all national parks on Wednesday.
This goes along with President Trump’s signing of the Great American Outdoors Act which will provide a sizable and long-term boost of funding to national parks and other federal lands.
“President Trump has just enacted the most consequential dedicated funding for national parks, wildlife refuges, public recreation facilities and American Indian school infrastructure in U.S. history,” Secretary Bernhardt said. “I’ve designated August 4th as Great American Outdoors Day and waived entrance fees to celebrate the passage of this historic conservation law.”
This means all entrance fees will be waived Wednesday on public lands managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
And just like the Crazy Eddie commercials, there’s legalese at the very end of the announcement.
In this case, they just want to make sure you are aware that the fee waiver only applies to entrance fees. You don’t get a month of free camping if you act now, for example.
“Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, group day use, and use of special areas, will remain in effect,” according to the Interior Department.
