Some USACE Day-Use Parks Will No Longer Accept Cash

As of April Fool’s Day 2018, you’ll need a credit card or debit card to park at some recreation areas on Lake Lanier because several USACE Day-Use parks will no longer accept cash.

The US Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resource Manager at Lake Lanier Nicholas S. Baggett issued a press release on March 12, 2018 confirming the news that the USACE is installing automated credit card machines at twelve day-use parks on Lanier.

As of April 1, these USACE day-use parks will no longer accept cash:

1. Buford Dam Park
2. Burton Mill
3. Keiths Bridge
4. Lanier Park
5. Little Hall
6. Long Hollow
7. Lower Pool East
8. Lower Pool West
9. Old Federal Day Use
10. Two Mile Creek
11. Van Pugh North
12. West Bank

The old method of putting cash into a metal, brown vault box to purchase yellow user-fee envelopes will end.  Instead, USACE is installing automated credit card machines.

Fees remain the same:

• $5 per vehicle
• $2 per person for walk-ins
• $5 per boat launch
• $20 per commercial vehicle and
• $40 per annual pass.

Six USACE boat ramps won’t have a vault or an automated credit card machine:

1. Balus Creek
2. East Bank
3. Little River
4. Tidwell
5. Thompson Bridge
6. Vanns Tavern

So, to park there and launch your boat without getting a ticket from the USACE, you must display one of these park passes on the dashboard of your vehicle:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Annual Pass
• America the Beautiful Senior Pass
• America the Beautiful Access Pass or an
• America the Beautiful Annual Pass.

The Lake Lanier Project Management Office down by Buford Dam will have expanded hours to purchase annual passes.  Their physical address is 1050 Buford Dam Road; Buford, GA 30518.

The annual pass sales room will be open seven days a week — from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. — beginning Sunday, March 18, 2018.

The USACE annual pass will also be available by credit card purchase at the 12 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day-use park automated credit card machines.

Those who purchase a pass from the credit card machine have seven days to redeem the receipt for a USACE Annual Pass at the Lake Lanier Project Management Office or by mail with your address and phone number attached.

Annual passes are valid for one year from the purchase date.

The Bottom Line

• Some day-use parks and boat ramps will no longer accept cash.
• 12 day-use parks and boat ramps will have automated credit card machines.
• The automated credit card machines will sell day passes and annual passes.
• If you purchase an annual pass at an automated credit card machine, you have seven days to redeem your receipt for your official annual pass, in person or by mail.
• You may purchase annual passes at the USACE offices (1050 Buford Dam Road; Buford, GA 30518) seven days a week — from 9 AM until 3:30 PM — beginning Sunday, March 18, 2018.
• Click Here for USACE Annual Pass Information