OverviewThe National Park Service (NPS) is offering a 15-year concession contract opportunity to operate lodging, food and beverage sales, retail, grocery, camper services (firewood, showers, and laundry), automobile services (fuel), stable operations and four campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park. This includes all commercial operations at Big Meadows, Skyland, Elkwallow, Lewis Mountain and Loft Mountain developed areas. The new contract is expected to begin January 1, 2026. The deadline for proposals is Thursday, November 7, 2024. Frequently Asked Questions The prospectus outlines the business opportunity for the incoming concessioner, describes the contract, and provides details on how to submit a responsive proposal.
The prospectus will require an incoming concessioner to operate lodging, food and beverage sales, retail, grocery, camper services (firewood, showers, and laundry), automobile Services (fuel), and stable operations. This includes all commercial operations at the Big Meadows, Skyland, Elkwallow, Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain developed areas. This is expanded to include concessioner operation of one of two Skyland amphitheaters (Peak View).
As a new required service, the National Park Service included campgrounds currently operated by the park in the contract. These are the developed campgrounds at Matthews Arm, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain. In addition to the operational requirements, the incoming concessioner will be required to complete facility improvement projects. Throughout the 15-year contract, the concessioner will restore Big Meadows Lodge and all seven Lewis Mountain Cabins, renovate six concession housing units, expand restrooms at Elkwallow Wayside and Loft Mountain Wayside, install stand-by generators at the Big Meadows Lodge and Skyland Restaurant, and electrify Matthews Arm Campground. The contract is termed to begin January 1, 2026, and will expire on December 31, 2041. (15 years).
The prospectus was published Tuesday, July 30, 2024.Proposals will be due Thursday, November 7, 2024. Once we receive the proposals, we will conduct an evaluation and selection process which will take several months to complete. We planned lead time between when we make a selection and when the contract goes into effect, so we will not see an imminent change to operations.
Concession fees will add $2.5 Million to our annual budget for the next 15 years, possibly more. This money comes directly back to Shenandoah National Park and can be used for staffing, educational programs, resource management programs, new vehicle purchases, and emergency service operations within the park. Additionally, it addresses $6 Million of deferred maintenance.
Why did the National Park Service choose to convert the campgrounds from NPS operation to a required concession operation?
A comprehensive condition assessment of concession operation assets revealed a need for several large, critically necessary capital improvement projects. The cost of these projects would exceed the financial capability of the concession contract unless campgrounds were included in the upcoming concession contract. The nexus of these financial situations led to the decision to include the campgrounds in the upcoming contract. Across the NPS, it is increasingly common to see campgrounds managed by concessioners. This means more money, from concession fees, that will allow the park to fix more stuff. It allows us to hire employees or re-direct employees to accomplish different tasks, such as wildlife monitoring, field-level concessions specialist presence to inspect and evaluate contract execution, and staffing entrance stations, to name a few. A comprehensive condition assessment of concession operation assets revealed a need for several large, critically necessary capital improvement projects. The cost of these projects would exceed the financial capability of the concession contract unless campgrounds were included in the upcoming concession contract. The nexus of these financial situations led to the decision to include the campgrounds in the upcoming contract. Across the NPS, it is increasingly common to see campgrounds managed by concessioners. This means more money, from concession fees, that will allow the park to fix more stuff. It allows us to hire employees or re-direct employees to accomplish different tasks, such as wildlife monitoring, field-level concessions specialist presence to inspect and evaluate contract execution, and staffing entrance stations, to name a few. There will be a campground host program, it is up to the concessioner to decide if the program will be managed through the Shenandoah Volunteer Office or by the concessioner. The concessioner is required by the contract to staff campgrounds 24 hours a day through the operating season.
We will change how we operate the campgrounds on January 1, 2026.
Rates will be set by the concessioner. Concessioners are required to set rates that are reasonable and appropriate based on the competitive market (regulations found in 36 CFR 51.82). Rates must also be comparable with goods and services of similar operations.
Rate increases over the life of the contract is expected, just the same as NPS would have to implement rate increases. The same requirements apply to guest lodging and food and beverage. The contract requires minimum operating dates aligned with timelines the park currently has in place. It is an option for the contractor to request to expand campground operating dates and times, however, the contractor cannot shorten the season.
Twenty-four campsites at Mathews Arm Campground, will be electrified. This will reduce RV generator noise, provide Wi-Fi-connectivity, and create an overall positive visitor impact.
Additional campground capital improvement projects are not required in this contract, but if a concessioner feels that campground infrastructure upgrades is warranted, NPS may approve updates. We won’t see changes to how the campgrounds are managed until the new concessioner is chosen and decides how they would like to manage campground reservations. A new concessioner will be chosen spring 2025 and will begin planning and getting systems in place during the summer, fall, and winter, 2025 to be ready to implement on January 1, 2026. The service prefers the concessioner use the current reservation system, Recreation.gov, but it is not required. The concessioner is required to maintain first-come, first-served and reservation sites (see below).
Current operation:
We won’t see changes to how the campgrounds are managed until the new concessioner is chosen and decides how they would like to manage campground reservations. A new concessioner will be chosen spring 2025 and will begin planning and getting systems in place during the summer, fall, and winter, 2025 to be ready to implement on January 1, 2026. The concessioner is not required to use the current reservation system, Recreation.gov, but is required to maintain first-come, first-served and reservation sites. Timelines for releasing reservable sites will remain the same.
Visitors with Access Passes and Senior Passes will get half-off their reservation at NPS-operated campgrounds. It is up to the concessioner to determine discount offers at concessions-operated campgrounds.
The National Park Service will maintain responsibility over the paved surfaces, will remove trash from dumpsters in campgrounds, and will charge an incoming concessioner for these services. Additionally, NPS will be responsible for hazard tree removal throughout the campground. Law enforcement maintains jurisdiction and interpretive rangers will be able to do programming and rove through concessions-operated areas. Campground volunteers will continue to be present in campgrounds and will be managed through the Shenandoah Volunteer Office.
The National Park Service will continue to manage all park amphitheaters, except for the Peak View Amphitheater at Skyland, which will be managed by the concessioner. Ranger-led evening programs at NPS amphitheaters will continue. Electrical, plumbing, heating, fire suppression, and repair deteriorating finishes.
Please direct questions/comments to: SHEN_Superintendent@nps.gov. Please include a return address (email, mail, etc.). For more information about the concessions prospectus, visit: https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/news/concessions-contract-opportunity.htm.
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Last updated: August 1, 2024