Missouri’s state parks are being prepared for a new tourist season after having one of their greatest years ever.  Last summer’s oppressive heat and week after week of drought might not seem like ideal weather for a camping trip or a visit to a state historic site. But the parks division says the number of people visiting those parks and sites was the second-largest on record. 

Parks Director Bill Bryan says the heat did take a toll, though. He says visitors were breaking attendance records until things dried up.

He says the total reached 18-million, only about 200-thousand less than the record set more than a decade ago.  The parks division says an economic study shows the state parks and historic sites division supported more than 14-thousand-500 jobs and  had a billion-dollar economic impact on the state.

AUDIO: Bryan interview 9:24