New way to pay day use fees at Wappapello Lake
Many of the recreational opportunities provided by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake are free to the public. These activities include enjoying the displays at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center, using one of the many picnic sites available, sight-seeing, fishing, and hiking the many trails – just to name a few. However, there is a small fee charged to use seven of the 26 boat ramps and the three public beaches maintained by the Corps of Engineers. Day use fees are charged at Rockwood Point, Redman Creek, and Peoples Creek Beaches as well as the boat ramps at Rockwood Point, Redman Creek, Sundowner, Peoples Creek, Greenville, and the two ramps at Chaonia Landing. A fee of $3 is charged to launch your boat at these ramps. A fee of $1 per person is charged to use the beaches with no fee required for children under the age of 12 and a maximum of $4 per carload. Registered campers at Corps campgrounds do not have to pay day use fees as long as their current campground hang tag is displayed. Persons with a Golden Age or Access Passport that was issued prior to 2006 and current America the Beautiful Interagency Senior and Access Passport holders receive a discount of 50 percent on day use fees as well as camping fees.
“Iron Ranger” pay stations are located at each individual fee area outlined above. Fee envelopes are provided to pay the appropriate fee and a detachable receipt that is to be displayed facing out from the rear view mirror or on the dashboard to show patrolling Park Rangers you have paid the required fee.
To further assist our customers, we have installed a new drive-through automated day use fee collection machine near the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center. This machine is similar to an ATM and quickly guides you through the payment process and provides you a receipt to display as you would an envelope receipt. At this time, the machine only accepts cash payments of $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills and coins and dispenses appropriate change. In the future, we hope to allow customers to pay for their fees using credit and debit cards. Although the machine is located in the Redman Creek Recreation Area, you may use this machine to pay your day use fee for any location at Wappapello Lake where Corps day use fees are charged. If you are a frequent visitor to the lake, you can purchase an Annual Day Use Pass for $30 (or $15 for discount pass holders). They are available at the Wappapello Lake Management Office, Millie’s, Peoples Community Bank locations, Rich’s Resort at Chaonia Landing, and Poplar Bluff Federal Credit Union locations.
If you have a question concerning day use fees or other topics, please contact the Wappapello Lake Management Office at 573-222-8562. For 24-hour lake information, call the Recreation Hotline at 573-222-8139 or toll free at 877-LAKE INFO or visit us online at http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/WappapelloLake.aspx.
