Vermont State Parks

Vermont State Parks is happy to invite you to join a free celebration of music at Kingsland Bay State Park on the first day of summer, Friday, June 21. Park entry is free to attend these performances and no pre-registration is required. Presented in partnership with Big Heavy World, Make Music Vermont is an international day of music-making that will take place in more than 120 countries and 1000 cities worldwide. Vermont is the first US state to coordinate a state-wide event, with performances at public places, including libraries, sidewalks, and state parks. Kingsland Bay State Park will be hosting a special Make Music Vermont event celebrating the music and 100 th anniversary of Pete Seeger’s birth . With a career spanning over eight decades, Seeger created music that celebrated the natural world and aimed to bring together people from all walks of life. A champion of the natural world and advocate for human compassion, Seeger often led communal singing to uplift those ...

A Vermont State Park cabin at night Rumors have gone round of haunted buildings in Kingsland Bay State Park . Last May, the Champlain Valley Vermont Ghost Hunters offered up their services to investigate if there actually is paranormal activity or if it's just people's imaginations running wild. The ghost hunters stayed for two nights in the park and conducted experiments in several park buildings including the main dining hall, the Hawley House and the staff quarters, and they did find some interesting evidence. Arriving in tricked out vans looking like command central, these four professionals use high tech equipment to scientifically determine if something else lurks beyond what we can see and hear. An Electrical Voice Phenomena reader (EVP), infrared cameras, motion cameras, laser devices, and other equipment help to document and measure images, noises, and the presence of 'others'. The investigators have been somewhat hush-hush about their findings pending of...

The Lois McClure Schooner The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) is partnering with Vermont State Parks to host a music and food festival to benefit the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund. Not only is there FREE admission into the park all day, but fun activities will be happening all day too, such as a farmer's market, performances, vendors from across the state will be selling local goods, and the regular activities that Kingsland Bay offers - hiking, picnicking, space for games, and more. To add to the special festivities, the LCMM is bringing along a historic ship. The Lois McClure Schooner will be docked on the shores of Kingsland Bay State Park for viewing all day, October 8th. Visitors enjoy a day of music and fun Download a poster of this special event here  or for more information visit http://lcmm.org/our_fleet/lois_mcclure_schedule.htm . Kingsland Bay State Park 's 264 acres sit on the picturesque shores of Lake Champlain, which is...

Wading off of Burton Island This week I explored the state parks on Lake Champlain which was great for cooling down in the hot summer heat. There was a big difference between these parks and the woodland parks I've been visiting over the past few weeks. Kingsland Bay has a great day use area with historic buildings that house events throughout the season. It is popular for weddings although I didn't see anyone getting hitched while I was there. I next went to nearby DAR State Park where I walked down to the water, a perfect spot for fishing. While there, I bumped into an interesting fisherman. This guy was great at fishing. He kept reeling fish in, naming them, and then throwing them back. I bet he knows every fish in the lake. Onto the most unusual state park I went to: Burton Island . After a short ferry ride, I stepped off onto a beautiful island. Everywhere you look is a beach where every rock on the beach is a perfect skipping rock. I can’t seem to skip a singl...

Periodically, Vermont State Parks must adjust its fees to keep up with inflationary pressures. Fees collected for park services are an important source of revenue to support operation and maintenance of the parks. We try to keep fees affordable and competitive. Most fee changes must be approved via the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Rule Making Process . An important part of the APA process is to inform the public in advance and give everyone an opportunity to comment. In that spirit, below are the proposed 2010 changes to, "Rules & Regulations - Visitor Conduct & Fees and Charges for State Park Services and Commercial Activities on Department Lands". Stone Hut - increase nightly fee from $150/per night to $195/per night. Kingsland Bay - increase banquet hall fees from $1,000 + $2/per person + $100 trash fee to $2,500 all inclusive. If you would like to comment on these proposed changes, send an email to craig.whipple@state.vt.us or snail mail: Craig Whipple, ...