Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 25, 2003
For more information:  Jessica Andrews, 773-4235

RESERVATIONS STILL AVAILABLE FOR FOURTH OF JULY IN STATE PARKS

PIERRE – Game, Fish and Parks officials are reminding campers planning an outdoor holiday for the July 4th holiday weekend that time is running out to make reservations.

"With the Fourth of July just around the corner, many campers have already made their reservations," said Doug Hofer, state parks director. "But there are still some parks with campsites available, in addition to a number of first come, first serve campsites."

As of Tuesday, June 24, parks with some campsites available for a three-day stay beginning Thursday, July 3 are the following: Fort Sisseton Historic State Park near Lake City, Lake Louise Recreation near Miller, Newton Hills State Park near Canton, Platte Creek Recreation Area near Platte, Swan Creek Recreation Area near Akaska, West Bend Recreation Area near Pierre and West Whitlock Recreation Area near Gettysburg. For reservations call (800) 710-2267 or go online to www.campSD.com.

Campers without reservations for the holiday weekend can consider visiting one of the 13 state campgrounds that offer entirely first-come, first-served campsites. These include Bear Butte, Fisher Grove and Union Grove state parks and Burke Lake, Cow Creek, Lake Hiddenwood, Little Moreau, Llewellyn John's, North Wheeler, Okobojo Point, Pease Creek and Springfield and West Pollock recreation areas. Custer State Park, Buryanek, Chief White Crane and Lewis and Clark recreation areas also offer limited first-come, first-serve camping.

For a listing of campsites available each weekend check the parks' website at www.sdgfp.info/parks and click on the "Weekend Campsite Availability" link. This report is updated each Thursday. A report also appears in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader each Tuesday and on KELO News each Thursday.

-30-