TOPEKA – Harsh winter weather has people longing for warmer days ahead, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has the perfect remedy for cabin fever. KDWPT invites outdoor enthusiasts to “Spring Into Summer” on Saturday, March 29 with a free entrance day and open houses at all Kansas state parks. Most parks will host special activities for the whole family to enjoy. Visit State Parks Open Houses to learn about the special events at participating parks.
Plus, visitors can enter a statewide drawing to win a free one-night stay at a state park cabin of their choice. No purchase is necessary. The free one-night stay must be used in 2014, is subject to availability, and may be used for a single night or to extend a paid cabin reservation for another night. Limit one entry per person. The drawing will be held April 10, 2014. Local drawings will be held at each site for items such as T-shirts. Visitors do not need to be present to win.
During Spring Into Summer, park goers can take advantage of low off-season camping permit prices. March 31 is the last day annual camping permits are priced at off-season discounts. On April 1, the prices increase to their regular prime-season levels. Visitors can purchase annual camping permits and make cabin or campsite reservations during the open houses, as well. For pricing information and to purchase permits online, go to the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com. For online permit purchases, click License/Permits. For campsite and cabin reservations, click Reservations.
Kansas motor vehicle owners can now buy an annual park vehicle permit as part of their vehicle registration process. The permit – called a Kansas State Parks Passport – costs $15.00, plus a 50 cents service fee to the county treasurer. This lower-price, non-transferable permit is available only during the vehicle registration process at a motor vehicle registration office, through the online vehicle registration site (www.kswebtags.org), or when registering by mail. The Kansas State Parks Passport will expire when the vehicle registration expires a year later.
The state parks and their scheduled events are listed below. All park offices will be open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The schedule is subject to change without notice.
Tuttle Creek
Archery Range: 10:00 – 2:00 p.m., Open for archery, slingshot, hatchet throwing, crossbow
Nature Bird Hike: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Meet at park office
Kiowa Cabin open house: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., refreshments served
Hunter Education Field Day: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Fancy Creek Range (Students must also attend classroom sessions at Green Valley Community Center March 25 and April 1 and pre-register at the park office)
Drawings for two T-shirts, a hoodie, coffee mug
Cedar Bluff
Cabin and facility tours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free hot dog feed: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Drawings for one youth T-shirt, one adult T-shirt, one hoodie and one hat
Cheney
Drawings for some T-shirts
Cabin tours and tour the Ninnescah Sailing Association facilities
Visit with members of the Cheney Lake Association
Clinton
Drawing for a free T-shirt
Cabin Open House: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Wakarusa Valley Cabin
Animal Show-n-Tell: 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m., Park Office
Search ‘n Find Activity: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Prizes for all who participate
Craft Area: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 pm
Drawings for free T-shirts
Crawford
Free Welcome Back breakfast: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m., Marina, hosted by Friends of Crawford State Park, Donations welcomed to fund the July fireworks display
Dedication for the Don Lamb Fishing Access Area: 10:00 a.m.
Disc golf tournament: 11:00 a.m., Disc golf area
Tours of the 160-acre Skinner Property: 1:00 p.m., Features history of the area prior to statehood and the “Bleeding Kansas” era
Tour a cabin: all day
Cross Timbers (Toronto Reservoir)
Timber Walker cabin tours: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Features recent improvements
Personal watercraft simulator: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Timber Walker Cabin
Courtesy boat inspections: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Toronto Point East boat ramp
Eisenhower
Cabin open for viewing, hot dogs and refreshments, games
5K Run/Walk sponsored by Osage City Warmth Fund
Drawings for prizes
El Dorado
Nature photography hike: 10:00 a.m., Walnut River Area trailhead in Eagle Pass campground.
Archery Range: Open all day
Archery lessons: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Equipment provided
Cabin tour: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Walnut River area
Free boat inspections: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm., Park Office
Elk City
Fishing Derby: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Kids Fishing Pond
Pasture Golf Tournament: Tee off 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.. $10 per team, First place prize awarded
Horseshoe Tournament: 3:00 p.m. (2 Person Teams) $10 per team, First place prize awarded
Golf and horseshoe tournament proceeds benefit park projects
Free cookout: 5:00 p.m., Door prize drawings
Fall River
Willow Bend Cabin tours:10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Features recent improvements
Glen Elder (Waconda Lake)
Cabin open: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hillsdale
Shooting range open: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Drawings for free T-shirts
Kanopolis
Cabin open house: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lovewell
Cabin tours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Levi Strong 10K and 2-mile Run/Walk Benefit/Fundraiser: 10:00 a.m., Willow Group Shelter Registration forms available on Facebook “TEAM LEVI STRONG: OUTRUN CANCER 10k and 2 Mile Run/Walk”
Lovewell and Glen Elder Fishing Forecasts: 1:30 p.m., Willow Group Shelter
Meade
Office tours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Trout Derby: 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Drawings for a hoodie, two youth T- shirts, and two adult T-shirts
Milford
Crabapple Cottage open house: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Adventure race: Times vary
Drawings for a hoodie, two water bottles with floating key chain, two T-shirts
Perry
Guided horse trail rides: 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Wild Horse Campground (or ride on your own)
Potluck covered dish dinner:1:00 p.m., Wild Horse Campground
Project report and live auction: 1:30 p.m., Wild Horse Campground
Drawings for a hoodie and two T-shirts
Pomona:
Cabin and shelterhouse tours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.:
3rd Annual Easter egg hunt: 1:00 p.m.
Open House at Lighthouse Bay Marina
Miss Teen Kansas and vendors at Southwind Shelter
Scavenger hunt, RV Show, Food vendors
Prairie Dog (Keith Sebelius Reservoir)
Adobe and school house tours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cabin tours: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Drawings for one youth T-shirt, one adult T-shirt, one hoodie and one hat
Prairie Spirit Trail
Old Depot Museum in Ottawa: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Walk, bike or bring your pet. Free Lunch
Scott (Lake Scott)
Cabin tours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Display of John Deere Gators and utility tractors: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Display of Traeger Grills by Percival Packing: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Refreshments
Drawings for coffee mug, plastic water bottle, baseball cap, hoodie and a T-shirt
Webster
Plainville Boat Shop will display boats and equipment: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Cabin tours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Refreshments
Drawings for two youth T-shirts, two adult T-shirts and a hoodie
Wilson
Cabin open: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cabin tours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Refreshments