Coastal park entry fee going up

Proceeds from the fee increase will help improve and maintain the park.

Story Published: Jul 14, 2008 at 4:01 PM PDT

New fees

Day use fees go from $5 to $7

Annual pass fee from $10 to $15

Three day passes for motorcycles will go up from $2 to $3

Cost of private and commercial large capacity vans (10 to 20 passengers) will go up from $20 to $25.

Commercial tour buses will pay a $50 one-time fee, up from $40.

NEWPORT, Ore. -- Visiting the tidepools or touring the 134-year-old lighthouse at Yaquina Head will cost more starting Monday.

The Bureau of Land Management will be raising the fee for day use of the site and associated facilities at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area by 25 to 50 percent.

One hundred percent of the money collected from fees is used to help operate and maintain the site and to pay for programs that directly benefit Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area visitors.

“An estimated $75,000 in additional revenue raised from charging a higher fee would remain on site,” said Yaquina Head Manager Joe Ashor. “The revenue would be used to continue the existing level of high quality services and interpretive and educational experiences offered to visitors, help protect the areas sensitive natural resources, and help maintain the lighthouse. None of the fee revenue would be used to pay for administrative overhead costs.”

The fees allow the passengers of a private vehicle to enter the park and utilize all of the facilities for three consecutive days.

Activities include viewing exhibits in the interpretive center, tours of the 134-year-old lighthouse and access to the tidepools and hiking trails in the park.

All non-vehicular access and access for school and education-related groups will remain free. The BLM will also continue to offer periodic free days.

The BLM has managed Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area since 1980. In 1997, BLM began charging a fee to visit the lighthouse and the newly constructed interpretive center. In 1999, the per vehicle fee structure was initiated. Since 1999, the fees have raised enough revenue annually to cover approximately fifty percent of Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area’s operating expenses.

For more information about Yaquina Head activities, contact the BLM at 541-574-3100 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, or visit the Yaquina Head Web site.

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