Disappointed in My Heretofore wonderful TX State Parks

Which Texas park? Only Texas park we have stayed at was part of Davy Crockett park. This was our first time to camp in 2009. I know this is a National Park, but last I heard was still closed due to fire damage or damage from hurricane.

We have stayed at private parks or military parks when we are home in Texas. I have not had a problem in private parks or military if I wanted to extend my time, especially if it was because of bad weather. I can usually handle everything by phone.

I know the state has been shorting the state parks with funding. Some people do workkamping in exchange for a camp ground site. Sometimes they are the ones working the entrance gate or the desk. Was this a Parks department employee or civilian? If you have had this problem a lot, I would contact them in Austin at the HQ to file a complaint. I don't know if it will do any good, but it might help for the next time.

lizbard wrote:
Which Texas park?

Garner SP. And these were Park Rangers -- I've never seen anyone BUT Park Rangers working in their offices. They said it was the 'rule' for all SPs. Although like I said I was almost positive I did the same 2 years ago but when I mentioned that the lady told me I must be mistaken because that's never been the way they did it.

Oh well. Here I am standing in line since 7:30 to get a ticket.

Must be something unique to Garner SP, as I've never stood in line at any Texas SP for a reservation and I've been booking on line ever since they started the process. I've called and added night on either end of reservations several times without a hitch. Not sure why you would have two reservations like that...

Javi1 wrote:
I've never stood in line at any Texas SP for a reservation and I've been booking on line ever since they started the process. I've called and added night on either end of reservations several times without a hitch. Not sure why you would have two reservations like that...

X2

NEVER come to Garner on a Saturday especially! Some ppl camp out in chaise lounges on the patio all night to be first in line. And I was just @ Inks & the Ranger told me a man had been there since 3 AM that morning to get 2 lakefront sites.

happybooker1 wrote:

lizbard wrote:
Which Texas park?

Garner SP. And these were Park Rangers -- I've never seen anyone BUT Park Rangers working in their offices. They said it was the 'rule' for all SPs. Although like I said I was almost positive I did the same 2 years ago but when I mentioned that the lady told me I must be mistaken because that's never been the way they did it.

Oh well. Here I am standing in line since 7:30 to get a ticket.

It's been my observation over the years that Garner works differently than the other parks. I would be surprised if you ran into this in other parks in the TPWD system.

What happens if you make a reservation at Garner using the online system, or can you? I've never stayed at Garner, but I have never had to stand in line after making a reserve online in any other park I've stayed in.

Bob Landry wrote:
What happens if you make a reservation at Garner using the online system, or can you? I've never stayed at Garner, but I have never had to stand in line after making a reserve online in any other park I've stayed in.

I DID use Tx SP online reservation system. You always have to stand in line for Garner. What got me is I knew I had to stand in line for the July 28 ressie but why couldn't they just go ahead & tack on the ressie for the next 4 days, which was for the same type of site, in the same part of the park, and under the same name?

Puzzled? Must be missing something here.

Why didn't you just make the original reservation for five days?

monkey44 wrote:
Puzzled? Must be missing something here.

Why didn't you just make the original reservation for five days?

Garner is THE most-visited park in the State. And they only have about 60 sites in Old Garner, where we *always* stay. They are 100% booked during the summer, usually by March. BUT..... There are cancellations of course. And if you can get ONE day at OG, they can, in my 7-Summer experience, add on days from cancellations, once you're there. So if you have just 1 day you're good. Which is why I made the first reservation.

Last week I checked just for grins & surprisingly they had 2-3 sites available in OG for the next 4 days. Hence the 2 separate reservations. Now I know I should have just stuck with my original method & asked for an extra 4 nights when I got here. But that could be a cr@p shoot too & we COULD have to stand in line again OR move to New Garner, which, although nice, is not where we want to camp.