Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Old Marina fee collection to keep state park open is now up and running

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

This post was written by Morgan, 2012 Policy Coordinator.

Last week an “iron ranger” was installed at Old Marina—it is a key piece of keeping the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve open and financially viable.

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve Interpretive Specialist Dave Marquart at Old Marina explaining how the new parking fee keeps the park open. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Visitors who drive to Old Marina can now deposit their $3 per-vehicle parking fee into the iron ranger and know that it helps ensure the park stays open.

What if I have a California State Parks pass?
Your state parks pass enables you to park for free at Old Marina. Additionally, if you visited Bodie State Historic Park in the morning, the entrance fee you paid there can be used at Old Marina on the same day. Unfortunately, if you paid the parking fee at Old Marina and then visited Bodie, your Old Marina pass won’t get you into Bodie.

What if I have a National Parks pass?
Federal fee passes are accepted at South Tufa and Yosemite National Park, but unfortunately do not include Old Marina.

What if I don’t have enough cash on hand?
You can purchase a valid Old Marina day pass in advance at the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore in Lee Vining starting tomorrow, June 1. If you buy your Old Marina pass at the Committee all the money goes back to the Mono Lake Reserve. Those who walk or cycle to Old Marina can enjoy the boardwalk and trails for free; the parking fee for commercial vans is $20 and $40 for commercial buses.

At this time last year, the Mono Lake Committee was working hard to reverse the inclusion of the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve on the state park closure list … this year, the Mono Lake Reserve is open to all and generating revenue to sustain its future. What a difference a year makes!