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Proposed House Tour Fee Increases at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site » Proposed House Tour Fee Increases at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site » Document List
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site has extended the public comment period for proposed house tour fee increases through August 17, 2019 (45 days). The extended comment period is related to the new online reservation system, recreation.gov. Use of recreation.gov requires a $1 online processing fee for every ticket reserved online. This means children's tickets, reserved online, will incur a $1 online processing fee. However, in-person, day-of, walk-up child tickets will remain completely free of charge. The park learned of the $1 online processing fee for free child tickets after the initial comment period began on July 1, and extended the deadline to allow time for additional comments.
If approved, the new house tour fee structure would begin on October 1, 2019. The increases will be the first since 2004.
A public meeting will be held on Saturday, July 20, from 9:30-10:30 am, at the park amphitheater.
The park currently charges $5 for adults; $3 for adults aged 62 and older and all pass holders. Children 15 and under are free. As proposed, new house tour fees for adults would be raised incrementally: for tours beginning on or after October 1, 2019, the new costs would be $8 for adults; and $5 for adults 62 and older, including all pass holders. On October 1, 2020, the costs would be: $10, adults; and $6 for adults 62 and older, including all pass holders. $1 of every adult ticket, purchased online or in person, will go towards use of recreation.gov.
Within these proposed fee increases, house tour tickets for children (aged 15 and under) will remain free of charge. However, children's tickets reserved online will incur $1 online processing fee. In-person, day-of-tour children's tickets will remain completely free of charge. These costs are in line with what other national park units charge for historic house tours and what the National Park Service pays for use of recreation.gov.
The park doesn't charge an entrance fee. All other park features, including the goat barn, trails, special events, and performances are free and do not require tickets or reservations. House tour fees fund interpretive and preservation efforts in the house.
Comments can be also submitted: in person during business hours at the park bookstore in the Sandburg Home or at park headquarters; by mail, to CARL Proposed Fee Increase, c/o Superintendent, Carl Sandburg Home NHS, 81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, N.C. 28731; or by email to CARL_Administration@nps.gov with the subject line "CARL Proposed House Tour Fee Increase."
Comments will not be accepted by FAX, Facebook, or in any manner other than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Before including a personal address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information, anyone providing written comment should be aware their entire comment, including personal information, may be made publicly available at any time. While anyone wishing to comment may ask the National Park Service to withhold their personal identifying information from public review, the National Park Service cannot guarantee it will be able to do so. For more information please visit www.nps.gov/carl.
Additionally, to reduce crowding and to better protect park resources, the agency will adjust the house tour size from 15 visitors to 12. The change in tour size is due to visitor complaints about crowded tours and staff concerns about historic resources. To offset this change, online house tour reservations will be available through recreation.gov beginning October 1, 2019.
Tickets not sold in advance via recreation.gov will be available to walk-in visitors first come, first served. The online system will be the only way to make advanced house tour reservations. The park will continue to offer eight tours per day, with additional tours added as needed.
828-693-4178
If approved, the new house tour fee structure would begin on October 1, 2019. The increases will be the first since 2004.
A public meeting will be held on Saturday, July 20, from 9:30-10:30 am, at the park amphitheater.
The park currently charges $5 for adults; $3 for adults aged 62 and older and all pass holders. Children 15 and under are free. As proposed, new house tour fees for adults would be raised incrementally: for tours beginning on or after October 1, 2019, the new costs would be $8 for adults; and $5 for adults 62 and older, including all pass holders. On October 1, 2020, the costs would be: $10, adults; and $6 for adults 62 and older, including all pass holders. $1 of every adult ticket, purchased online or in person, will go towards use of recreation.gov.
Within these proposed fee increases, house tour tickets for children (aged 15 and under) will remain free of charge. However, children's tickets reserved online will incur $1 online processing fee. In-person, day-of-tour children's tickets will remain completely free of charge. These costs are in line with what other national park units charge for historic house tours and what the National Park Service pays for use of recreation.gov.
The park doesn't charge an entrance fee. All other park features, including the goat barn, trails, special events, and performances are free and do not require tickets or reservations. House tour fees fund interpretive and preservation efforts in the house.
Comments can be also submitted: in person during business hours at the park bookstore in the Sandburg Home or at park headquarters; by mail, to CARL Proposed Fee Increase, c/o Superintendent, Carl Sandburg Home NHS, 81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, N.C. 28731; or by email to CARL_Administration@nps.gov with the subject line "CARL Proposed House Tour Fee Increase."
Comments will not be accepted by FAX, Facebook, or in any manner other than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Before including a personal address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information, anyone providing written comment should be aware their entire comment, including personal information, may be made publicly available at any time. While anyone wishing to comment may ask the National Park Service to withhold their personal identifying information from public review, the National Park Service cannot guarantee it will be able to do so. For more information please visit www.nps.gov/carl.
Additionally, to reduce crowding and to better protect park resources, the agency will adjust the house tour size from 15 visitors to 12. The change in tour size is due to visitor complaints about crowded tours and staff concerns about historic resources. To offset this change, online house tour reservations will be available through recreation.gov beginning October 1, 2019.
Tickets not sold in advance via recreation.gov will be available to walk-in visitors first come, first served. The online system will be the only way to make advanced house tour reservations. The park will continue to offer eight tours per day, with additional tours added as needed.
Contact Information
Superintendent Polly Angelakis828-693-4178