Congaree National Park sets visitation record in 2017

Congaree National Park experienced another banner year in 2017, hosting a wide range of activities and programs and once again setting a visitation record. The park welcomed more visitors in 2017 than in any other year in the park’s history: 159,595 visitors. This represents a 10% increase over the previous year or an increase of 15,752 visitors.

Many of these visitors participated in a variety of activities while in the park and numerous special events, including the Firefly Festival and the Total Solar Eclipse. Throughout the year, the park partnered with various schools and community partners to host thousands of local school children who took part in educational programs. In 2017, hundreds of individuals from across the Midlands and beyond gave back to the park through thousands of hours of volunteer service.

“It is obvious that there is an increasing awareness of Congaree National Park and all that it has to offer,” said Acting Superintendent Mark Kinzer. “In addition to becoming more widely known nationally and globally, in 2017 we encountered numerous South Carolina residents who are discovering the park for the first time.” The increase in visitation at Congaree and at National Park Service sites across America is a testament to the value that these special places hold for the public.

Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park was established as a National Monument in 1976 and designated a national park in 2003. Annual park visitation has steadily increased throughout the years with 2017 setting a record. Park staff continue to focus on providing programming and facilities geared toward accommodating the needs of the increasing numbers of park visitors while providing for protection of the natural and cultural resources found in the park.

For more information about visitation, please go to the National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics web page at https://irma.nps.gov/Stats.