Following a competitive process that was initiated last October, the Plumas National Forest has selected Royal Elk Park Management as the new recreation concessionaire for 36 sites.
Expectations are for recreation sites including Antelope Lake, Feather River Canyon, Frenchman Lake and Lake Davis to open May 24, in time for Memorial Day weekend. At Frenchman Lake Lunker Point Boat Launch is open and at Lake Davis Honker Cove and Lightning Tree boat launches are both open.
Lakes Basin, including Gold Lake, is still impacted by snow. Recreation staff are monitoring conditions and hope to have an estimated opening date soon.
Royal Elk Park Management has hired staff and begun preseason operations, including marking and removal of hazard trees; cleaning up debris from roads, spurs and campsites; and opening water and sewer systems.
PNF reported that fees will not be increased from 2023 rates for recreation sites operated by the concessionaire. They will not be increased for the next three years of their operation, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Extra vehicle fees for campsites have been decreased to $5 per day per vehicle for a second or third vehicle in a campsite. An annual season pass for boat ramps and day use sites managed by Royal Elk will be available for $85.
Royal Elk Park Management’s special use permit is authorized for five years with the option to extend the permit an additional five years at the discretion of the authorized officer.
“Some people may remember that Royal Elk Park Management has been our concessionaire before,” said PNF Recreation and Lands Program Manager Erika Brenzovich. “They are familiar with our recreation sites, which means that even with late notice they know what needs to be done to successfully open for the season and are looking forward to serving area residents and visitors.”
The prior concession special use permit had 47 recreation sites. Six sites will now be operated by the Forest Service as fee sites, including Crocker, Grizzly Creek, Silver Lake, Snake Lake and Whitehorse campgrounds and Crocker Guard Station. Five recreation sites will be operated by the Forest Service without a fee, including Bucks Lake, Frenchman Dam and Lake Davis kiosk and picnic sites, Antelope Picnic Area and Gold Lake Cartop Launch.
These site changes join the 12 recreation sites removed from concession operations in 2023 that are now operated by the Forest Service. Of those sites, those with fees include Conklin Park, Deanes Valley, Golden Trout, Greenville, Lauman, Meadow Camp, Meadow View, and Rock Creek campgrounds. Sites without fees include Milsap Bar and Ross Camp campgrounds, with Little North Fork and Rogers Cow Camp campgrounds still within the North Complex Fire recreation site closure.
“We appreciate the public’s patience this year as we finish the selection process for the new concessionaire and they work on starting operations for the season,” Brenzovich said. “Our hope is this will be a great summer recreation season on the Plumas National Forest.”
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
Information provided by Plumas National Forest
