National Park Service seeks food service vendors for Blue Heron concession at Big South Fork National River; applications accepted until June 1 for summer and fall operations

April 22, 2025 (press release) –

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There are currently business opportunities to provide food service at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area in the Blue Heron, Kentucky area for this summer and fall. Opportunities include operation of the Blue Heron concession stand, food trucks, and food carts.

The National Park Service manages these kinds of commercial activities using a commercial use authorization which ensures a high-quality visitor experiences while protecting important natural, cultural, and scenic resources. Applications for commercial use authorizations for any sort of food service operation at Blue Heron will be accepted without a late fee if they are received before June 1. This does not apply to one-time business operations or special event vendors. Those who wish to sell food must obtain liability insurance to serve food items. If an operator wishes to sell prepared (not pre-packaged) foods, they must also submit an additional application for review and approval by Public Health and Safety. Vendors wishing to serve prepared food will be required to provide a certificate for a Certified Food Manager (CFM), most recent inspection report, and business license with their application package. CFM certification can be obtained through an ANSI-accredited food safety exam, available online at: https://aaafoodhandler.com/food-manager-certification/.

More information and applications may be found on the following websites: https://www.nps.gov/biso/getinvolved/dobusinesswithus.htm. For more information, contact the Park’s Administrative Officer at (423) 569-9778 or Angela_Graham@nps.gov.

Last updated: April 22, 2025