California State Parks is honoring the service of veterans, as well as active and reserve personnel, by offering free admission at 143 participating state parks on Veteran’s Day.
“California State Parks is proud to offer free admission on Veterans Day to all active military personnel and veterans as gratitude for their service. We welcome veterans to the amazing natural and cultural resources of our state’s parks,” said California State Park’s Director Lisa Mangat.
Participating state parks include: 134 parks that are accessible with the “California Explorer” Annual Pass; the California State Railroad Museum; and eight State Vehicular Recreation Areas. Veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel must show a valid military ID in order to receive free admission at a park on Saturday.
These include many parks that honor historic military sites or veterans from the Mexican American War to the Cold War, including: Angel Island State Park, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Fort Tejon State Historic Park, Mount Diablo State Park, Point Sur State Historic Park and San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park.
Additionally, the California Railroad Museum will offer steam locomotive excursions, and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park will offer excursions behind a former military locomotive. For more information, contact the Railroad Museum at 916-323-9280 or www.californiarailroad.museum or Railtown 1897 at 209-984-3953 or www.railtown1897.org
AB 150 (Olsen), signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. in 2013, authorizes California State Parks to offer veterans, active duty, and reserve military personnel from the United States Armed Forces and the National Guard of any state a reduced or free-day use at participating state parks.
Responsible for almost one-third of California's scenic coastline, the California State Park system includes 280 parks, beaches, trails, wildlife areas, open spaces, off-highway vehicle areas and historic sites. It consists of approximately 1.59 million acres, including over 339 miles of coastline, 974 miles of lake, reservoir and river frontage, approximately 15,000 campsites and alternative camping facilities, and 4,456 miles of non-motorized trails.
To learn more about California’s state parks, visit www.parks.ca.gov.
