A lakeside chalet at Clarkco State Park was just the ticket for sisters Delia Rollins and Julie Hughs.

Both women's families were facing transfers to new jobs and new homes, states away from their hometown of Hattiesburg. With their moves looming closer, the sisters gladly accepted their dad's invitation to spend a few days with the family at Clarkco.

"This is just beautiful!" Julie said, while pier fishing with her daughter, Temple, 2 1/2 and Delia and her son, Jonathan, also 2 1/2. "I've never been here before, but it's just great."

Mississippi's state parks have long been a favorite vacation destination. Last year, a total of more than four million people visited the state's 28 parks.

But recent improvements and new facilities will make state parks even more attractive to visitors in search of a lot of bang for their vacation buck.

Legislators Pass Bond Bill

Now in full swing at state parks is approximately $42 million in repair, renovation and new construction work-all made possible by the Mississippi Legislature's passage of a bond bill (HB 1673) in 1994 and a direct appropriation (HB 1703) in 1995.

"This is the most work that's ever been undertaken at one time on 27 state parks," said Fred Robinson Jr., chief of planning and construction for Parks and Recreation, Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

The last major renovation and repair project for state parks was 24 years ago, in 1972.

Legislators had been considering improvements at parks for a couple of years before actually funding it, according to Rep. Charlie Williams, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Separate House and Senate study committees visited the state parks to evaluate their needs and talk with park managers.

Rep. Williams said the legislature strongly supports state parks because they provide affordable recreation for all Mississippians. "It is our intent that the people of Mississippi have an affordable opportunity to spend time at our state parks," he said, "We hope any of our citizens, for a reasonable fee, can enjoy our wonderful outdoors and that they will be able to utilize our new and improved park facilities now available."

New and Improved Facilities

A good portion of the money has funded work the public may not readily see but will certainly appreciate: long-needed repairs and improvements in roads, utilities and water treatment.

Reservations are already being accepted for 23 new cabins under construction at five State Parks, Eighty-eight of the parks' 200 existing cabins have been renovated, and all now have brand-new mattresses.

Other new park construction includes a 30-room lodge at J.P. Coleman at Iuka, a giant water slide at Roosevelt near Morton' golf courses at John W. Kyle in Sardis and Percy Quin near McComb, two conference cabins and a swimming pool bathhouse at LeFleur's Bluff in Jackson, and new gatehouses.

Construction is expected to begin this summer at Roosevelt on a multi-purpose center with a 600-seat auditorium, The center will be capable of transmitting live broadcasts through Mississippi ETV. "It's really going to be unique to the park system," Robinson said.

A Natural Setting for Golf

At a cost of $10 million, the construction of two golf courses ranks among the most ambitious and visible projects under way at the parks.

Up until now, LeFleur’s Bluff State Park in Jackson, with its nine-hole course, was the only Mississippi State Park to offer golf. The completion of courses at John Kyle and Percy Quin will be a step toward creating a public golf trail through the state.

Chief architect for course construction at John Kyle is Robert C. Cupp, whom Golf World named as its first-ever Golf Course Designer of the Year. Cupp's work includes course design and construction at Old Waverly Country Club in West -Point.

Arthur Hills and Associates is building the course at Percy Quin. Golfweek magazine recently listed two of Hills' courses as the top-rated courses in Louisiana and Kentucky.

Both golf complexes will include an 18-hole championship course, a nine-hole learning center, a driving range and pro shop. Opening is expected in the fall.

"They're designed to make the average golfer feel comfortable ... but they can be used for Championship courses," Robinson said.

"We think we’re going to have the nicest public courses for sure in the state and probably in the Southeast," said Latrelle Ashley, chief of operations, Parks and Recreation, MDWFP.

Parks officials expect these new public golf courses to have a significant impact on park revenue in the future. "Golf has been big in neighboring [state] parks for years," Robinson said.

Parks are Big Business

Robinson believes the golf courses will help make John W. Kyle and Percy Quin what MDWFP calls "destination" parks. "We feel we can offer visitors so many recreational opportunities that they won’t need to go anywhere else," Robinson said.

And that means dollars for the state park system. Last year the parks generated more than $6 million in user fees and rentals. Top revenue producers were camping fees and cabin rentals.

"Parks are pretty big business," Ashley said.

They also generated business for the areas in which they are located. Park visitors usually purchase gasoline, food, groceries, bait or other items at local stores, especially during extended stays. They may use local services as well, such as trailer or RV repair.

"We’re getting snowbirds [visitors from the north] that used to go to Florida and who stay with us for months at a time in the winter," Ashley said. "They found out we have a lot to offer in Mississippi."