Johnson's Shut-Ins to open for swimming

Visitors to Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville can once again swim in the shut-ins this summer, officials said Friday.

The shut-ins area of the park will officially open at 8 a.m. Monday. Visitors can splash in the shut-ins area of the park, picnic nearby and visit the park store. Explanations will be offered as to what happened to the park and the recovery process. The park will remain open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 3.

All other areas of the main park remain closed. The areas are considered construction zones and people will not be allowed in these areas for safety reasons. There will be no camping available. Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park was closed following the Dec. 14, 2005, breach of the nearby Taum Sauk reservoir, which flooded the park. Plans continue for the redevelopment of the park, which the department hopes will be fully operational in 2008.

For more information on other attractions in the Lesterville/Arcadia Valley area, go to www.experienceblackriver.com. For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, go to www.mostateparks.com or call the department at (800) 334-6946.

jsamons@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245