Driver Destroys Emigrant Lake Entrance Booth, Flees Scene
Jackson County Parks says the driver struck the decades-old booth at high speed before sheriff’s deputies tracked them down.
Booth Debris: Broken signs, brochures, equipment, and pieces of the entrance booth were scattered across the park roadway. Jackson County Parks.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — A driver leaving Emigrant Lake Park destroyed the park’s entrance booth on the night of July 30 after striking it at what officials described as an extremely high rate of speed.
The driver initially fled the scene, according to Jackson County Parks. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office later located the driver.
Photos shared by the parks department show debris scattered across the roadway, including large portions of the booth, a door, signs, and other equipment. The structure had stood at the park entrance for decades.
Cover Image: Debris from the destroyed entrance booth covers the roadway at Emigrant Lake Park after a driver struck the structure on July 30. Jackson County Parks.
“It is disturbing to think of a vehicle moving this fast through a park,” Jackson County Parks said in a public statement August 1.
Officials did not immediately release information about possible injuries, citations, arrests, or what may have caused the crash.
With the entrance booth destroyed, park staff can no longer collect parking fees from arriving visitors.
Jackson County Parks is asking guests to use the Pay by Phone system instead. Signs posted throughout the park provide instructions for completing the payment. Visitors may also purchase an annual parking pass.
The parks department acknowledged that parking fees can be frustrating but said the money is essential to maintaining and operating Jackson County’s park system.
User fees provide most of the department’s operating revenue, according to Jackson County Parks. The agency said it relies heavily on income generated during a few busy summer months to help keep parks open throughout the year.
Property taxes do not fund routine park operations, and the department does not charge residents a monthly park utility fee.
Jackson County Parks asked visitors to continue paying required parking fees while the entrance booth is unavailable.
The department has not announced whether the booth will be repaired or replaced.
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