Governor Kelly to Open New State Park in Western Kansas

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and The Nature Conservancy invite news media to attend the opening ceremony for Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Governor Laura Kelly is scheduled to speak, along with Rob Manes, Kansas Director of The Nature Conservancy, and Brad Loveless, KDWPT Secretary. Area legislators and local officials have also been invited to attend.

The gates will open at 9:00 a.m. and the opening ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. After the presentations, Governor Kelly will lead a ribbon-cutting at one of the two trailheads to officially open the park.
There will be no charge for the public to enter Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park on opening day. After the grand opening, the park will be open to visitors from sunrise to sunset daily, all year round. Visitors will be required to purchase a daily vehicle permit, currently $5, at the park or have an annual Kansas state parks vehicle pass. Guided tours provided by KDWPT staff will be available by appointment.

The park is accessed via two-lane graveled county roads.

Directions From the North:

From Oakley, drive approximately 22 miles south on U.S. Highway 83 to Gold Road. Turn west onto Gold Road. Drive 3.5 miles to County Road 400. Turn north on County Road 400. Drive 1 mile to entrance for Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park.

Directions From the South:

From Scott City, drive approximately 21 miles north on U.S. Highway 83 to Gold Road. Turn west onto Gold Road. Drive 3.5 miles to County Road 400. Turn north on County Road 400. Drive 1 mile to the entrance for Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park.

For more information about Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, visit nature.org/littlejerusalem and KSOutdoors.com/Little-Jerusalem.