RALEIGH – Campgrounds at eight state parks in eastern North Carolina will close in anticipation of the passage of Hurricane Irene, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

 

All camping facilities will close on Friday and Saturday nights at Lumber River, Jones Lake, Lake Waccamaw, Carolina Beach, Pettigrew, Merchants Millpond and Goose Creek state parks. In addition, primitive campsites on Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park will remain closed Thursday night through Sunday night. Visitors with reservations at those campgrounds are being notified of the closures.

 

The affected state parks remain open for day use visitors only. However, state parks throughout eastern North Carolina could close on short notice depending on the anticipated path of the storm. Updates about park and facility closings are posted on the state parks system’s website atwww.ncparks.gov and through its Twitter feed, NCparks.

 

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