News Release 278

BLUNT-EMERSON-DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
ANNOUNCE JOHNSON'S SHUT-INS STATE PARK WILL OPEN MONDAY WITH LIMITED ACCESS THIS SUMMER

Volume 35-278

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 29, 2007 -- Visitors to Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville can once again swim in the shut-ins this summer, Governor Matt Blunt, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Doyle Childers announced today.

The shut-ins area of the park will officially open at 8 a.m. Monday, July 2. Visitors can splash in the shut-ins area of the park, picnic nearby and visit the park store. Interpretation will be offered to explain what happened to the park and the recovery process. The park will remain open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 3, 2007.

"We have been working extremely hard to help make certain that visitors will once again be able to visit Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, which is one of Missouri's most popular parks," said Gov. Blunt. "Opening the shut-ins in anticipation of the holiday weekend will also help local businesses and increase tourism opportunities, which is crucial for jobs and the local economy for Missourians in Lesterville and the surrounding area."

"The Johnson's Shut-Ins are one of Southern Missouri's crown jewels and an important driver for our tourism economy," said Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson. "I am very grateful to all of the men and women who put in a tremendous effort to be sure the park will be open for the Fourth of July. I encourage everyone in Missouri to come to the Shut-Ins this summer and see why this place is so special to our state, and I am visiting the Johnson's Shut-Ins on July 3rd to tour the park and see the great progress which has been made there."

The shut-ins, parking area, picnic sites and the store are the only areas that will be open for the season. Visitors will be able to visit the store, which has drinking water and other amenities, then walk down the trail and boardwalk to the shut-ins.

"We are glad that Ameren reached the goal of opening the park by the Fourth of July," said Doyle Childers, director of the Department of Natural Resources. "Making portions of the park available to visitors is one more step to show progress in the overall development of the new Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park."

All other areas of the main park remain closed. These areas are considered construction zones and people will not be allowed in these areas for safety reasons. There will be no camping available. The nearby area of Goggins Mountain where the equestrian trail and trailhead are located is closed as plans continue for rebuilding of the campground in that area.

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park was closed following the Dec. 14, 2005, breach of the nearby Taum Sauk Reservoir, which flooded the park. Plans continue for the redevelopment of the park, which the department hopes will be fully operational in 2008.

Also available in the area are other state parks and historic sites, including Taum Sauk Mountain State Park near Ironton, Fort Davidson State Historic Site in Pilot Knob and Elephant Rocks State Park near Belleview. There are many other attractions in the Lesterville/Arcadia Valley area as well. For more information on these other attractions, go to www.experienceblackriver.com. For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, go to www.mostateparks.com or call the department at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf).

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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