Characteristics, desired experiences, and knowledge of visitors and potential visitors to Big Thicket National Preserve

Gulley, Gerald

Research on visitors to the Preserve and their desired experiences. The Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP), near Beaumont, Texas, is a unique Biological Preserve administered by the National Park Service. Designated as an International Biosphere Reserve, it attracts both national and international visitors.This research examined characteristics, desired experiences, and knowledge of a sample of visitors and non-visitors to the Preserve. Questionnaires were used on-site at the Visitor Information Station and off-site at a department store in nearby Woodville, Texas. Most respondants were current or previous BTNP visitors, but a small number (8%) indicated they had never visited the Preserve.Results revealed the typical Preserve visitor was a Texas resident, Caucasian, 40-49 years old, college educated, with a family income of $40,000 or greater. Most visitors were accompanied by family members or friends. Non-visitors differed from visitors primarily in lower levels of education and lower family incomes.Most visitors (58%) lived within a 2.5 hour drive of the Preserve's Visitor Information Station. Visitor knowledge of Preserve actiuvities was highest for the activities hiking, bird watching, and nature study. The desired experiences rated most important were "Enjoy nature," "See wildlife," "Escape the crowd/noise," and "Be with friends/family." Significant effects were found to exist between the independant variables age, gender and education and importance ratings of certain desired experiences.