Community Partnerships Program
Ohio State Parks
jim.henahan@dnr.state.oh.us
ohiostateparks.org

OVERNIGHT VISITORS TO OHIO STATE PARKS PUMPED $244 MILLION

INTO LOCAL AND STATEWIDE BUSINESSES DURING 2005

Study examines economic impact of Ohio State Parks visitation

COLUMBUS, OH - Overnight visitors to Ohio State Park campgrounds, cottages and resort lodges contributed $244.1 million to the state's economy in 2005 through spending on lodging, food and other services, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

“Our state parks are an important source of recreation and revenue for Ohio,” said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. “Many local communities and businesses rely on park tourism for their livelihood. And that livelihood translates into local jobs and local tax revenues.”

The study, sponsored by the Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism, showed that about 2.5 million overnight visitors to Ohio State Parks accounted for the $244.1 million in direct expenditures - on and off park property. Actual revenues to parks accounted for less than 10 percent of that amount, with more than 90 percent going to local communities and businesses that support the recreation and travel industries.

Most of the visitor expenditures (59 percent) went for food, drink and lodging. The remaining 41 percent went for automobile and transportation, recreation and retail purchases.

According to the study, lodging, food, transportation, goods and services purchased by overnight visitors generated $22 million in state taxes and another $14.9 million in local taxes during 2005. In addition, overnight stays supported the equivalent of 7,200 full-time jobs across the state.

        An independent poll conducted by The Ohio State University in 2004 showed 42 percent of adult Ohioans visited an Ohio State Park for at least a day that year to swim, boat, picnic, hike or attend a special event. These visits, both day-long and overnight, generated a combined $1.1 billion in sales at local businesses.

Ohio's 74 state parks offer 56 family campgrounds and more than 9,000 campsites; more than 500 overnight cottages; and nine full-service resort lodges. Reservation information is available at ohiostateparks.org or through 1-866-OHIOPARKS (1-866-644-6727) for camping, getaway rentals, and some cottages, and 1-800-AT-A-PARK for resort lodges and cottages at Burr Oak, Hueston Woods, Maumee Bay, Punderson, Salt Fork and Shawnee as well as the resort lodge at Mohican.  Resort lodge and cottage reservations at Deer Creek are available at

1-877-678-3337. Geneva resort lodge reservations are available at 1-800-801-9982.