Due to budget cuts, the California State Parks system announced a plan to close 70 of its 278 parks. The first parks will start to be shuttered in September 2011 and all 70 slated California state parks should be completely shut down by July 2012. The following 70 California state parks are on the list to be closed:
Anderson Marsh State Historical Park
Annadel State Park
Antelope Valley Indian Museum
Austin Creek State Recreation Area
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
Benbow Lake State Recreation Area
Benicia Capitol State Historic Park
Benicia State Recreation Area
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Brannan Island State Recreation Area
California State Mining & Mineral Museum
Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
Castle Crags State Park
China Camp State Park
Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
Fort Tejon State Historic Park
Garrapata State Park
George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area
Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Greenwood Creek State Beach
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park
Hendy Woods State Park
Henry W. Coe State Park
Jack London State Historic Park
Jug Handle State Reserve
Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
Lime Kiln State Park
Los Encinos State Historic Park
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
Manchester State Park
McConnell State Recreation Area
McGrath State Beach
Mono Lake Tufa Reserve
Morro Strand State Beach
Moss Landing State Beach
Olompali State Historic Park
Palomar Mountain State Park
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park
Picacho State Recreation Area
Pio Pico State Historic Park
Plumas Eureka State Park
Point Cabrillo Light Station
Portola Redwoods State Park
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
Russian Gulch State Park
Saddleback Butte State Park
Salton Sea State Recreation Area
Samuel P. Taylor State Park
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
Shasta State Historic Park
South Yuba River State Park
Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Tomales Bay State Park
Tule Elk State Reserve
Turlock Lake State Recreation Area
Twin Lakes State Beach
Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park
Westport-Union Landing State Beach
William B Ide Adobe State Park
Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area
Zmudowski State Beach Park
If you live in California or are planning a visit to the state, you should definitely add as many of the above state parks to your visit list as possible. I will definitely be adding as many of these to my visit list this year. You can see where all the above California state parks are located here
Save McGrath State Beach! Find us on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SAVE-Mcgrath-State-Beach/125819574163318?sk=wall&filter=12
Have been to Zion National Park several times. Have enjoyed the campgrounds, hiking and unique micro climates in the valley. The bus is a great addition as my first visit was back before the busses took visitors around the park.
I look forward to going back! Just a beautiful park!
I find it very sad that Westport-Union Landing State Beach is being closed. It is one of the only primitive camp sites where you camp within 100 feet from the ocean. With 100 camp sites, I find it interesting that the states says it does not make a profit. I was there in July and 90% of the sites were full. That is a profit of over $2,000 per day. It does not cost that much to run this park. With one camp host and one part time worker… That does not take $2,000. I would like to see this park left open with campers paying as we did 10 or 20 years ago… This is a sad year…
In the case of Railtown 1897, the property and contents will remain the property of the state, but management and costs will revert to the county.
I have just started a Save Railtown effort. The idea is to come up with a plan that will make the park an economically worth while effort for the local community.
I invite you and your readers to visit our blog and comment in support of our efforts–including offering any ideas you may have! When it comes to support, “the more, the merrier!”
SaveRailtown.blogspot.com