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ROLLA, Missouri -- Mark Twain National Forest is looking for recreation site concessionaires for 2012.
According to David Whittekiend, Mark Twain National Forest supervisor, Missouri’s USDA National Forest is looking for private concessionaires to operate nine campgrounds and their associated recreation areas, and one rental cabin for the 2012 recreation season.
The ten proposed areas are Big Bay Campground on Table Rock Lake; Cobb Ridge Campground in Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV area, Christian County; Greer Crossing Campground near Highway 19 and Eleven Point National Scenic River; Lane Spring, off of Hwy 63 south of Rolla; Loggers Lake near Bunker; Markham Springs near Ellsinore; North Fork Campground on the North Fork of the White River near West Plains; Sinking Creek Cabin at the base of a historic fire tower in Carter County; Sutton Bluff Campground in the Sutton Bluff Motorcycle and ATV Area in Reynolds County; and Watercress Campground, on the Current River in Van Buren.
Most of the sites are located along rivers or lakes, and many include picnic areas, boat launches, or other day use sites as well as the campground.
Campground concessionaires are encouraged to provide additional goods and services such as firewood and soda sales, and boat or camp trailer or tent rentals as a way to increase their income and to better serve campers.
Some of these national forest recreation sites have been operated and maintained by concessionaires with positive results several years ago. One of them is currently under concession.
"Concessionaire campground managers that have the responsibility for one or two campgrounds spend more time in the campgrounds, are more available to campers, and are able to offer more goods and services than Forest Service employees can,” Whittekiend said. “This is an opportunity to team up with private individuals or companies to provide quality recreation settings."
Under the terms of the prospectus available from the Forest Supervisors Office in Rolla, Missouri, potential concessionaires can apply to operate and maintain one or more of the ten recreation sites.
Selected applicants will be authorized to collect camping and day use fees from recreationists and, in return, will maintain campsites and other facilities, including but not limited to maintenance and cleaning of toilets, trash collection, mowing, cleaning campsites and making minor improvements to keep the area safe for users.
In return, campground concessionaires would pay the government a small percentage of fees collected.
Selection will be based upon the technical merit of proposals.
“This prospectus is shorter and requires less detail than previous applications,” said Mark Twain National Forest Recreation Manager Nancy Feakes. “Forest employees will be available to show those who are interested the recreation areas, and will be able to assist them in completing their proposal.”
Anyone interested in being a Mark Twain National Forest campground concessionaire needs to summit proposals by close of business December 1, 2011 and be available to start operating on site no later than May 1, 2012.
The final selection of successful applicants should be made by December 15, 2011.
Copies of the prospectus are available in a link from the feature article on the website at www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf/, by writing Forest Supervisor, 401 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, MO 65401 573-364-4621 or by contacting the nearest Mark Twain National Forest District Ranger Office.
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