Due to the government shutdown, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed all of its campgrounds and day-use parks at noon last Friday, including the Kendall Recreation Area and campground below Wolf Creek Dam, forcing around 25 campers and RV’s off the grounds and ending vacations early for dozens of families.

Park attendants Gary and Brenda Hayes at the park’s entrance relayed the information to campers after displaying a sign near the campground’s entrance notifying folks of its closing on Friday morning.

Don Phillips, 77, and his wife, Shirley, from nearby Stearns in McCreary County, had been camping on the grounds for about 10 days before the shutdown forced them home early.

“This has been a mess for everybody. I saw three trailers move out around daylight (last Friday) morning,” Phillips said. He said he and his wife frequent the campground several times per year and stay for up to two weeks each time. “I love to trout fish so we’ve been coming here for around 15 years.”

More than 800,000 workers have been furloughed since the shutdown began and along with the Kendall Recreation Area being shut down in Russell County, so too has its neighbor, the Wolf River National Fish Hatchery.

The Corps in Nashville had previously announced that it intended to keep these areas open as originally scheduled but support to recreation areas could no longer be sustained as the district progresses through its orderly shutdown.

In a release, the Corps said they sincerely regretted the inconvenience and impact this decision may have had on customers who have been looking forward to visiting the district’s parks and campgrounds.

“We know that this is a time of year when many vacationing families are using or planning to use Corps recreation facilities, and we will reopen them for public use and enjoyment as quickly as possible,” said Lt. Col. John L. Hudson, the Nashville District commander.

Corps parks leased to partner agencies and concessionaires remain open, but cannot be supported by the Corps while the shutdown is in place.

Customers on site prior to the closure going into effect were required to leave the campgrounds and parks no later than noon that Friday. Customers who were required to vacate campsites early will receive a partial refund for any unused portion of their reservations, according to the corps.

Customers could choose to have reservations open for possible use after the shutdown is lifted.

To request a refund please contact the reservation customer service at 1-888-448-1471 (TDD 1-877-833-6777). If the customer chooses to do nothing, the reservation service will automatically cancel reservations after their departure date during the shutdown period.