Last week we passed a major milestone - DMV sold the 1,000th Virginia State Parks license plate.

I like to tell folks I waited 24 years for my plates. I started with Virginia State Parks in 1996, our 65th anniversary, and we tried unsuccessfully to get a Virginia State Parks plate that year. Of course 1996 was before social media and we didn't even have a customer mailing list, so promoting the initial signup was difficult.

The initial plates were shipped out last fall. Now that we have sold 1,000 plates, Virginia State Parks will earn $15 for every plate sold. If you don't have yours yet, you can order the plate online at DMV.

I am also excited to let you know that we have a new annual pass hang tag that complements the plates.

Our four most common passes - Naturally Yours Passport, Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters and Equestrians, and the senior versions of those two passes will offer the new hang tag.

Additionally, if you buy one at the park, we will hand you the pass as you complete the purchase, punching the expiration month and year. You can also buy the pass for up to 3 years. Keep in mind that the passes will only be available for sale in the park if the office or contact station is open. Since Seven Bends does not have an office or contact station, you will need to visit another park to buy your pass or use the online method.

In addition to buying one at the park, we have an easy to use online sales channel here.

Learn about the different pass options here.

If you do not use your trailer for a boat (car top rack or back of a pick up for canoes and kayaks), you do not pay extra to launch, so the $75 Naturally Yours passport is all you need ($40 for seniors).

If you bought the pass before, you know you received a temporary pass and then waited for the hang tag to come in the mail. Now you have instant gratification.