State Park Report

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. November 2, 2016.  Richard Droesbeke, Bear Lake State Park Manager,  told county commissioners  there  were  about 345,000 marina and  state parks visitors this year which creating more than  $1 million in revenues  with a profit of $601,000.  That represents an increase of $82,000 over last year.  In the last ten years there has been an increase every year

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Bear Lake Enterprises, which holds the license to merchandise the State Parks made $1,170,000, which was the best year ever for a concessionaire, they pay royalties on that earning.   BLE has added more amenities.  Any other business that uses the marina must have a sub contract to the concessionaire. 

Bill Cox and Tom Weston said that there has been some discord from people who have a commercial fishing trip business and feel like they are only using the marina for launch and don’t want to pay Brian Hirschi for that launch.  Droesbeke said that according to the law, Bear Lake Enterprise was entitled to charge any commercial entity. 

Park use is growing.  This was the busiest summer they have had.  They had ten nights when every campsite was filled and there was overflow. The Cisco Disco is growing every year; there were 800 ice water jumpers in the Cisco Disco.     

Droesbeke is hoping to get a maintenance position filled.   They are at capacity for parking at the Marina and at Rendezvous Beach and need more.  They also hope to get new restrooms at the Rendezvous Park.   They are opening a new OHV trail to Meadowville.   And they are working on approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers to do beach grooming and to provide access below State Park areas.  Idaho has that approval.   Senator Lyle Hillyard is working on the marina, he thinks he can get $25 million but a gap of $13 million has to be met. 

Phase 1 of the Long term rental dock replacement has been completed and Phase 2 is going out to bid.  In the spring they will build a fish cleaning station.  On the Eastside the parking area will be enlarged and paved at First Point. Marina parking will also have improvements. 

They also organized and conducted an “on the water” search and rescue training. The quagga mussel testing was done. 

Norm Weston wants the infected lakes to have cleaning stations rather than trying to protect Bear Lake from quagga mussels. “That is where your efforts should be.” He said.

Rendezvous Beach improvements included two new replacement restrooms, expanded two existing pavilions as new group campsites.  A new day use pavilion was built with funds donated by ICON Health and Fitness.