HARPER’S FERRY, W.Va. — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia has instituted a three-month pilot program to collect cashless entrance fees for vehicles.
Park officials anticipate that moving to a cashless system for the summer will allow the park to be a better steward of visitor dollars, according to Kristen Maxfield, a spokesperson for the National Park Service.
The system will reduce transaction times and the amount of time park staff spend managing cash and will improve accountability and reduce the chances of errors, Maxfield said.
Park visitors bringing vehicles into the park may pay entrance fees in several ways.
- They may purchase an entrance pass on the
Hikers take in the view of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia from Maryland Heights. Photo by Rick Burgess[/caption]
Visitors with motor vehicles may also purchase Harpers Ferry National Historical Park annual passes or Interagency passes upon arrival to the park. Pedestrian visitors are not required to hold passes and may walk freely into the park. Visitors in motor vehicles may also park outside the park and walk in.
The national park uses 100 percent of entrance fees collected for projects that enhance the visitor experience. Recent project examples include improvements to restrooms and picnic areas and the preservation of historic structures within the park.