Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP Announces Restarting of Visitor Services
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is increasing visitor services available at key locations in the park. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. At this time, with public health in mind, all buildings in the park will remain closed to the public, except for restroom facilities at Chatham.
Each day that conditions permit, the NPS will have staff available on the ground at key sites to provide orientation and informal interpretation in outdoor settings, including maps, general information, and Junior Ranger booklets.
The hours of operation will vary depending on conditions and circumstances at each site, each day, including heat, inclement weather, available staffing, and the density of attendance and gatherings.
Staffed Daily:
- Outside Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and along the Sunken Road
- Outside Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center
- Wilderness Battlefield Exhibit Shelter
- Ellwood (Friends of Wilderness Battlefield)
Staffed Weekends Only:
- Chatham Manor
- Spotsylvania Exhibit Shelter
The park’s gift shop/bookstore at Fredericksburg Battlefield, managed by Eastern National, will be open daily.
Please check the park’s Facebook page for any late changes to our planned operations. https://www.facebook.com/FredericksburgSpotsylvaniaNMP/
At those sites not staffed, the grounds will remain open, sunrise to sunset.
Public restrooms will not be available, except at Chatham and at the Spotsylvania Exhibit Shelter.
The NPS asks all visitors to abide CDC guidelines for social distancing. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.
While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.
The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.
