Fee Increase At Carl Sandburg Home NHS Could Include Charge On Free Ticket/NPS

When is a free ticket to tour the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in North Carolina not free? When you reserve a free child's ticket via recreation.gov and are charged a $1 processing fee.

National Park Service staff earlier this year proposed an increase in the fees for touring the late poet's home. But when they put the proposal out for public comment, they didn't realize that recreation.gov charges a $1 processing fee for every ticket reserved online, even if it's a ticket for a visitor 15 and under, which carries no cost.

As a result of that unexpected fee, the Park Service has extended the comment period tied to the proposed fee increase through August 17.Regardless of whether higher fees are implemented, in-person, day-of, walk-up child tickets will remain completely free of charge. 

A public meeting will be held at the park on Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m to discuss the fee proposal. It will be held in the park amphitheater.

The park currently charges $5 for adults, and $3 for adults aged 62 and older and all pass holders to tour the home. Children 15 and under are free. Proposed house tour fees for adults would be raised incrementally: For tours beginning on or after October 1, the costs would be $8 for adults, and $5 for adults 62 and older, including all pass holders. On October 1, 2020, the costs would be $10, adults, and $6 for adults 62 and older, including all pass holders. One dollar of every adult ticket, purchased online or in person, would go towards use of recreation.gov.

The park doesn’t charge an entrance fee. All other park features, including the goat barn, trails, special events, and performances are free and do not require tickets or reservations.

Comments about the proposed house tour fee increase can be made online.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located three miles south of Hendersonville, North Carolina, off U.S. 225 on Little River Road, and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Weekdays are less busy than weekends.