CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — The weekend after Memorial Day is usually a slow weekend when it comes to camping according to Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources. This year, that’s not the case.
The weekend brought even more campsite reservations than the holiday weekend.
“We've been completely full this weekend,” said Ginger Murphy, the Deputy Director for Stewardship with Indiana State Parks. "We even had some people who stayed through the week and extended their reservation."
Indiana campgrounds opened just in time for Memorial Day weekend after the coronavirus pandemic forced them to close in early April, but the parks never shut down.
"One of our goals throughout this whole thing has been to stay open for people,” said Murphy.
Indiana State Parks waived entry fees for weeks as the pandemic continued.
"We're not immune to the economic realities of the time that everyone else has been experiencing,” said Murphy, though she couldn’t say just what the economic toll will be from the pandemic for parks.
"But we stayed open and stayed free at a period of time when Hoosiers really needed a chance to social distance and be outside so we're very pleased with that,” she said.
Murphy says visitors are still asked to abide by social distancing guidelines inside the parks.
The nature centers are also still limiting the amount of people allowed inside at one time.
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