Hostel Development In Redwood National Park

The following press release was sent in by norcalhostels.org. It looks like they are going to try to open another hostel in Redwood National Park. The old HI Redwood Hostel closed down in January 2010.

[INDENT]CALIFORNIA COASTAL CONSERVANCY FUNDS INITIAL STAGE OF HOSTEL DEVELOPMENT IN REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS

Klamath, CA - The California Coastal Conservancy has awarded funding up to $144,500 to the National Park Service for site selection, environmental review, and preliminary design of a tourist hostel to be located in Redwood National and State Parks in Del Norte County.

According to preliminary criteria, the new hostel site will be located near Highway 101 and the Coastal Trail with sufficient access to services, and in an area where development will have minimal adverse effects on natural and cultural resources. The Park Service will select a site after considering environmental impacts and public comments on alternative locations. Final site selection and designs are scheduled to be completed in July 2012.

The Park Service will work in consultation with the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA, the nonprofit organization that operated the Redwood National Park Hostel from 1987-2010. Located in the historic DeMartin home on Highway 101 in Klamath, the original Redwood Hostel was closed in January 2010 after it was discovered that the building required substantial reconstruction, including seismic retrofitting.

"The funding for this project continues a valued partnership with the California Coastal Conservancy, our ally in developing hostels that offer low-impact access to the coastline," says Danielle Brumfitt, executive director of the Golden Gate Council. "Their support was crucial in establishing the first Redwood Hostel in 1987, and has helped us to continue to meet the growing needs of visitors. This is an exciting step towards opening the doors to hostellers again in Redwood National and State Parks."

The Park Service welcomes comments from the public, and is compiling a list of community members who wish to receive updates about the planning process. To comment or to subscribe to the list, contact Aida Parkinson, Supervisory Environmental Specialist for Redwood National and State Parks, at [email][email protected][/email] or PO Box 7, Orick, CA 95555.

ABOUT US
The Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting intercultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and world peace through travel. In addition to operating eight hostels in Northern California, the Council provides environmental and intercultural education for youth through its Hostel Adventure programs.

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