MS state parks get mini-houses with water views
“We get a lot of positive feedback, people are excited. I’ve been doing this for 27 years and I’ve never seen so much excitement in parks.”
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Want to camp in style, somewhere you can relax and enjoy water views? Mississippi’s state parks are for you, and you don’t even need a fancy trailer.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is offering tiny houses for rent in state parks, with the first one expected to be available in September.
“They’re really nice,” said Andre Hollis, MDWFP director of state parks. “We have one in Buccaneer and another one is in the pipeline. We hope to open it in mid-September.”
The tiny homes are 300 square feet (28 square meters) and have a bedroom with a queen bed, a bathroom and an open living area. They are fully furnished and include a TV and a kitchenette with a refrigerator and coffee maker. Hollis said they won’t have stoves, but will have grills for outdoor cooking.
“You can enjoy the camping experience but stay in a really nice little house,” Hollis said.
“I came in and said, ‘Wow!’” Check out these transformations of Mississippi state parks
Tiny houses with a view of the water
And outside is where you’ll probably want to spend much of your stay. The tiny houses have a patio with outdoor furniture where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful views.
“We try to put them in prime waterfront locations,” Hollis said. “Most people want a water view, so we try to give them a lake view. The one at the Buccaneer has a Gulf view.”
Hollis said the department plans to purchase 15 to 20 of these units. Rent will be about $190 per night, with a two-night minimum stay. They would be placed in parks with larger campgrounds across the state and the process will be completed relatively quickly.
“We hope to have all of them implemented by December 2025,” Hollis said.
More: MDWFP unveils new campground and cabin renovations at the state park. Here it is
Tiny Homes are part of the bigger picture in MS State Parks
The tiny houses are part of a broader plan to modernize the state’s aging park system. Brian Ferguson, MDWFP chief of staff for the parks department, told the Clarion-Ledger in August 2023 that the budget is $50 million, with additional funding expected.
Hollis said renovations are currently underway at Clarkco, Natchez, Paul B. Johnson, Percy Quinn and Roosevelt state parks, with more to come. Hollis said the improvements, including renovations to the campground and cabins, have been well received.
“We’re getting a lot of positive feedback, people are excited,” said Hollis. “I’ve been doing this for 27 years and I’ve never seen this much excitement in parks.”
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