JUNE 2008 - Association of Marina Industries

Industry NewsForever Resorts Celebrates Fee-FreeWeekendsThis summer Forever Resorts is celebrating America’s nationalparks with freebies and fun for nature lovers duringthe National Park Service’s Fee-Free Weekends.The National Park Service (www.nps.gov) announced Fee-Free Weekends in various park destinations during June,July and August, saving visitors $3 to $25 in park admissioncosts. (The waiver does not include other fees affiliatedwith camping, reservations, tours and use of concessions.)Fee-Free Weekend dates include June 20-21, July 18-19 andAugust 15-16.During Fee-Free weekends, Forever Resorts invites parkvisitors to experience a FREE ride aboard a luxury houseboatat marina locations across the Southwest. Rides will begiven from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays during Fee-FreeWeekends, departing from Antelope Point Marina on LakePowell; Callville Bay Marina and Temple Bar Marina onLake Mead; Cottonwood Cove Marina on Lake Mohave;and Lake Amistad Marina on Lake Amistad. Rides includean introduction to the fun of houseboating, instruction onpiloting a houseboat and an opportunity learn more aboutthe recreation area.• Isle Royale National Park, MI – Rock Harbor Lodge• Badlands National Park, SD – Cedar Pass Lodge• Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, TX – Marinaat Lake Meredith• Lake Amistad National Recreation Area, TX – LakeAmistad Marina, Rough Canyon Marina• Padre Island National Seashore, TX – Padre Island ParkCompany• Big Bend National Park, TX – Chisos MountainsLodge• Blue Ridge Parkway, NC/VA – Crabtree Meadows,Bluffs Lodge & Restaurant, Mabry Mill• Olympic National Park, WA – Lake Crescent Lodge,Fairholme Store, Hurricane Ridge• Grand Teton National Park, WY – Signal MountainLodge, Leeks MarinaBoaters That Purchase “Taxed Fuel” MayBe Eligible For RefundSource: Best of BoatingRecreational boaters who purchase taxed fuel for use in theirboats may be able to get a refund of all or part of that ‘highwayuse tax’ depending on the state in which the fuel waspurchased, according to American Boating Association.Also during Fee-Free Weekends, Forever Resorts is givingout one FREE reusable eco-friendly shopping bag to anypark visitors who visit the retail stores between 10 a.m. and2 p.m. Also, on Saturdays during Fee-Free Weekends, ForeverResorts is offering FREE digital photos of park visitorsfrom 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a designated scenic area at a ForeverResort national park location. The following is a listof Forever Resorts locations across the United States offeringcomplimentary reusable shopping bags and free photosduring Fee-Free Weekends.• Grand Canyon National Park, AZ – Grand CanyonLodge North Rim• Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ/NV – CallvilleBay and Cottonwood Cove Marinas, Temple BarMarina, Black Canyon/Willow Beach River Adventures,Lake Mead RV Village• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, CA – OakBottom Marina• Mammoth Cave National Park, KY – Mammoth CaveHotel3According to the Federal Highway Administration, almost4 million gallons of gasoline were used for non-highwaypurposes in 2001. Of this, almost 25% (993,837 gallons)was used in marine activities. The cost of this fuel generallyincludes a highway use tax of anywhere from 7.5¢/gallon toclose to 30¢/gallon depending on the state.Many states apply the tax on marine fuel towards boatingprograms through the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. Butin other states the money does not get funneled into themarine community, and instead is put into the highwayimprovement fund. Since boats don’t cause wear and tearon the highways, bridges, and ferries that benefit from thatfund, applying marine fuel tax towards the highway improvementfund is widely viewed as unfair, according tothe boating association.To deal with the problem, several states have institutedprocedures to refund at least part of the tax to recreationalboaters who take the time to fill out the required paper-Industry News Continued on Page 5