News Release No. 408

NEW ELECTRIC SITES ADDED AT
LAKE WAPPAPELLO STATE PARK

Volume 33-408

Contact: Sue Holst

(For immediate release)

573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 3, 2005 -- New electric campsites have been added at Lake Wappapello State Park near Poplar Bluff, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.

Thirty-six basic sites in the park's campgrounds were recently upgraded to 50-amp electric service. Lake Wappapello State Park now offers 77 electric campsites and four basic campsites to the public. Park staff estimates that more than 95 percent of all campers at the state park request electric campsites. Forty-eight of the electric sites and three of the basic sites can be reserved by calling toll free 1-877-422-6766 or by going online at www.mostateparks.com. The remaining sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The work to add electricity to basic sites and upgrade some 30-amp sites to 50-amp service is in response to requests from park users to increase the number of electric sites in state park campgrounds. This effort is part of the department's overall effort to improve campground facilities. The state park system is primarily funded by the one-tenth-of-one-percent parks-and-soils sales tax, which was approved by Missouri voters.

Lake Wappapello State Park is located at the end of Highway 172 on Wappapello Lake in southern Wayne County. In addition to campgrounds, the park offers three boat ramps, two picnic shelters, a beach, playgrounds, 27 miles of trails and eight rental housekeeping cabins.

For additional information on Lake Wappapello State Park, contact the park directly at 573-297-3232 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit www.mostateparks.com.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/parkssearch.do.

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