KINGMAN - Hualapai Mountain Park made its first profit in a decade last year, according to a report from WLB Group. The report, which lists several recommendations to improve the park, will be presented to the Board of Supervisors Monday.
The park made a profit of just under $4,000 last year.
"The park is paying for itself," said Hualapai Mountain Park Superintendent Joe Donavan. "My cabins are full every weekend. I have people there during the week. People are staying longer. Camping is up. The all-terrain vehicle usage is up on the new trail."
Donovan received this year's Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce Andy Award as Tourism Champion, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal called the park a "little treasure."
According to the report, the park could do better with a few improvements, such as more cabins, a camp store for necessities, upgrades to current facilities and more special events.
Donavan knows one event the park will probably expand is Santa's Winter Wonderland.
"That was really popular," he said. "This year, I think we will go for two weekends."
The County Parks Department raises most of its operating and capital improvement revenue from Davis Camp Park near Bullhead City, according to the report.
The Board will also consider upgrading the current 911 dispatch center at the Sheriff's Office to locate cell phone calls. The office has eight 911 stations but only has enough grant funds to upgrade five stations. It attempted to get more grant funding for the other three stations, but was unsuccessful. The office is now asking the Board to approve the use of $24,650 out of the capital fund to upgrade the three extra stations.
Also on the agenda:
• Approval of an agreement between the county and the state for funds to repair pavement on Northern Avenue.
• The hiring of former Superior Court Judge Bob Moon as an attorney for the County Attorney's Office.
• The acceptance of Local Assistance Transportation Fund II from the state and splitting it among the three large cities in the county, Dolan Springs Community Council and Golden Shores Senior Transit. Kingman's share is expected to be $25,000.
• Establish a 20 mph zone between milepost 25 and 33 on Oatman Highway.
• Discuss the Phase V-A water line project for the Golden Valley Improvement District.
• Discuss the use of funds to build a new justice court in the Arizona Strip area.
• Discuss participating in the Bureau of Land Management's environmental impact study to withdraw 1 million acres of federal lands near the Grand Canyon from uranium mining.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
The park could use more cabins and a larger RV park, but there isnt enough money coming in to expand. I think they have done a great job with what they (the entire Hualapai Park staff, made up of 1 ranger, 1 secretary, and 2 maintenance workers) have had to work with.
Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Jeff
The winterwonderland drew far more visitors than was expected. These kind of things happen when an event is new. Hats off to the county parks dept.. I'm sure they will have the Hualapai Park Winterland event better planned this year. Perhaps with the Hualapai Park profitable the fee could be lowered.
Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
RE: 75wew3
Santas Hualapai Wonderland was so packed that cars couldn't get in or out. They were parked for I'm guessing 3/4 of a mile down the mountain waiting to get in. I do think however, that all the snow up there helped with the ambiance and probably brought quite a few people up just so they could play in the snow.
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
75wew3
I didn't see it, what was wrong with Santas Wonderland or whatever the name was?
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Al and Elise Otero
Only applause for Joe Donovan! We have stayed in the Hualapais for years and Joe has done a great job in seeing that the cabins are clean and maintained! THANK YOU!
Posted: Sunday, October 04, 2009
Article comment by:
Larry
What about the $ 200,000 dollars lost at Davis Camp this last year. The County Parks need a change.Great is this years Santa's Winter Wonder Land going to be the mess it was last year? Sure Hope Not, maybe the City of Kingman could take the Park over from the County and manage it right.
Posted: Sunday, October 04, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
And no thanks to the parks marketing guy who busted his butt and obviously helped push the park towards this wonderful acheivement...who's idea was Santas Hualapai Wonderland?
