![]() In the near future, McSperitt said the family plans to clear brush from overgrown areas of the park, improve bathroom facilities and build a camp store where campers can buy supplies. Parks director argued against Red Rock agreement "It's going to be the same park that everybody loves," she said. They also don't plan to reduce hours or charge an entry fee, she said. They don't want to do anything that would make the park feel overly developed or commercial, she said. But McSperitt said she and her siblings grew up in the park. Thiel's daughter, Jordan McSperitt, who serves as the park manager, said she understands why Sutton and others who live in the area and love the park might be concerned about changes there. “It's never happened before in 80 years of state park operations," he said. Regardless of the legality, though, Sutton said he doesn't think it's appropriate for the state to lease a public park to a private individual who plans to operate it as a for-profit enterprise. Sutton said he'd like to see an investigation into whether the arrangement is legal. He worries that Thiel eventually will begin charging visitors an entry fee. The park is being rebranded as Red Rock Adventure Park.ĭavid Sutton, who served as park manager from 1986 until he retired earlier this year, said he's concerned the change will lead to reduced hours and diminished services. It also bars his company from using the "state park" designation. Although the state retains ownership of the park, the agreement allows Thiel to sell merchandise and make improvements to the park. 1, the state tourism department leased the park to the city of Hinton, which then leased it to Thiel's company. But the park's former manager is calling for an investigation into the deal. Thiel says he wants to make sure the park remains open for years to come. HINTON - A year after state tourism officials warned lawmakers that half of Oklahoma's state parks could be shuttered if the department saw drastic budget cuts, one of those parks is now being operated by a private company.Įarlier this year, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation turned over operations at Red Rock Canyon State Park to a company owned by Rick Thiel, a Hinton businessman.
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