Chickamauga national park had more than 1 million visitors in 2015

Park ranger Christopher Young talks about a 793 lb cannon after a living history Civil War artillery demonstration at the Chickamauga National Military Park on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Multiple demonstrations took place to further educate the public on Civil War history as they visited the park.
Park ranger Christopher Young talks about a 793 lb cannon after a living history Civil War artillery demonstration at the Chickamauga National Military Park on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Multiple demonstrations took place to further educate the public on Civil War history as they visited the park.

A National Park Service report released last week states more than 1 million people visited the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in 2015, an increase from the previous year.

The analysis of visitor spending, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service, reported 1,002,373 park visitors last year, pushing the park over the million barrier after 996,694 visitors were reported in 2014.

Those visitors spent more than $63 million in communities near the park, supporting 979 jobs, according to the report.

Meanwhile, an updated economic impact study of the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District estimates that the first phase of National Park Service development at Moccasin Bend could bring more than 200,000 new visitors.

The park is expected to begin implementing a management plan in 2017 for the historically significant 750-acre landform that will further develop its hiking and paddling offerings and potentially include a visitors center.

The initial development of Moccasin Bend would bring an additional $14.8 million to Hamilton County's economy, according to the economic impact study of the area conducted by ConsultEcon, a Massachusetts based consultant.

"As Chattanooga and Hamilton County strive to increase their profile as tourist destinations, Moccasin Bend has great potential to further develop the tourism-related economy," the economic impact study reads.

"This project can be successful due to its combination of: close proximity to a major metropolitan area, its unusually long and rich Native American history, the extraordinary outdoor setting, the wide scope of interpretation, the status of being a National Park, and the manner in which it complements the existing tourism economy and redevelopment of Chattanooga's riverfront."

The direction Moccasin Bend's development takes is partially dependent on the future of a 33-acre law enforcement firing range used by city and county officers at the site.

Previous attempts to find a new firing range fizzled, but city and county officials are meeting with park advocates on a committee this year to figure out a solution that would allow the city and county to fulfill their agreement to allow the National Park Service to take over the land.

Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.

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