OverviewOn May 5, 2026, the National Park Service announced the selection of the new concessions contract operator for the park. The new 15‑year contract is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027. BackgroundThe contract solicitation to provide overnight guest lodging, food and beverage sales, retail and grocery operations, campground operations and camper services, fuel sales, and stable operations within the park opened on July 30, 2024, and closed on November 7, 2024. Read the contract opportunity announcement here. 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 requires 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, 2027, and will expire on December 31, 2042. (15 years).
The prospectus was published Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
Proposals were due Thursday, November 7, 2024. Once all proposals were received, the NPS conducted an evaluation and selection process which took several months to complete. The NPS planned lead time between selection and when the contract takes effect, so the park will not see an imminent change to operations. On May 8, 2025, the National Park Service announced cancelation of the concessions contract opportunity. The NPS revised and issued a new solicitation for these services. This did not affect continuity of visitor services because the current concessioner, Delaware North, was provided with a one-year contract extension.
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 $10 Million of deferred maintenance.
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. As a result, the park benefits from increased revenue generated through concession fees. The additional funding allows the park to address maintenance needs and invest in improvements, ensuring visitors have a better experience. It allows the park 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.
The selected concessioner will begin operating campgrounds on January 1, 2027.
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.
Visitors won’t see changes to how the campgrounds are managed until the new concessioner decides how they would like to manage campground reservations. Once a new concessioner is chosen, they will begin planning and getting systems in place to be ready to implement on January 1, 2027. 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:
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.).
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Last updated: May 5, 2026