THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 1994 TAG: 9410180441
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
DATELINE: BUXTON LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Although federal budget cuts reduced the number of ranger-led programs considerably this summer, more people visited the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Bodie Island Visitor Center and Ocracoke Island Visitor Center in 1994 than ever before, National Park Service officials said.
The three attractions closed for the season Oct. 10.
Overall visitation at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore increased approximately 7 percent this year - 15 percent since 1992.
At the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton, volunteers staffed the brick beacon throughout most of the summer. More than 190,000 people toured the tower in 1994 - up 40,000 from the previous year. The visitor center at the base of the lighthouse had more than 300,000 visits.
Ranger-led programs at the Bodie Island Visitor Center on the north end of Hatteras Island had dropped 65 percent since 1992. But visitation there jumped 23 percent this year.
On Ocracoke Island, ranger programs have declined by 76 percent in the past two years. Visitation, however, was up slightly this summer.
``As part of its deficit reduction program, the federal government has held the line on the rate of growth in expenditures,'' National Park Service Superintendent Thomas L. Hartman said.
``The balance of our budget has not kept pace with the increasing costs of operating the park. ... We will continue to provide the best services possible within the budget constraints which we must operate.''
For more information, call the National Park Service 995-4474. by CNB