Empty parks with no open sites.

Very interesting. I’ll wager the State of Colorado will get this fixed.

Interesting article. Sounds like there is an institutional failure at Colorado State Parks.

I was at Lassen Volcanic National Park the other week and the camphost checked for no shows and opened the empty campsites that same day. And this was without cell service or wifi in the campground. Very effective.

toedtoes wrote:
Interesting article. Sounds like there is an institutional failure at Colorado State Parks.

I was at Lassen Volcanic National Park the other week and the camphost checked for no shows and opened the empty campsites that same day. And this was without cell service or wifi in the campground. Very effective.

Hmm, I'm not sure I'm ok with that. If I've got a week long reservation that I've paid for and something has delayed me a day (weather, mechanical issue, food poisoning, whatever) I shouldn't lose my entire stay because I can't get there on the first day. Heck, I've had traffic accidents that caused such delays on trips that an 8pm arrival became 1am and I decided to Walmart the first night so as not to be rude to the other campers, being courteous shouldn't be penalized.

If they've got a way to contact the park and you're a no show no call on day 2 then fine cancel the reservation to free the spot up but otherwise I payed for the spot and if I need to delay my arrival then so be it.

afidel wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
Interesting article. Sounds like there is an institutional failure at Colorado State Parks.

I was at Lassen Volcanic National Park the other week and the camphost checked for no shows and opened the empty campsites that same day. And this was without cell service or wifi in the campground. Very effective.

Hmm, I'm not sure I'm ok with that. If I've got a week long reservation that I've paid for and something has delayed me a day (weather, mechanical issue, food poisoning, whatever) I shouldn't lose my entire stay because I can't get there on the first day. Heck, I've had traffic accidents that caused such delays on trips that an 8pm arrival became 1am and I decided to Walmart the first night so as not to be rude to the other campers, being courteous shouldn't be penalized.

If they've got a way to contact the park and you're a no show no call on day 2 then fine cancel the reservation to free the spot up but otherwise I payed for the spot and if I need to delay my arrival then so be it.

I think the responsibilty should be on the camper to contact the CG if there is an delay or arrival issue. Not the other way around.
No contact from camper within the 1st 24 hours and the site should be available to others. That gives the camper 24 hours to inform CG which should be ample time to make contact.

If I pay for it it should be mine for as long as I have paid for it even If I never show up. Just because you think it is empty and someone else has payed for it and isn't there yet don't mean you get the space

ferndaleflyer wrote:
If I pay for it it should be mine for as long as I have paid for it even If I never show up. Just because you think it is empty and someone else has payed for it and isn't there yet don't mean you get the space

If you never showed up, and don't call you forfeit the right to use site. Why should the site go unused? It's not about the money. If you have unforseeable circumstances call CG and expalin when you plan to arrive otherwise you forfeit.
There are those wealthy enough to book every site in the CG for an entire month. Do they get to tie up the CG without occupying the sites simply because they can afford to?

ferndaleflyer wrote:
If I pay for it it should be mine for as long as I have paid for it even If I never show up. Just because you think it is empty and someone else has payed for it and isn't there yet don't mean you get the space

Exactly right. I "own" that space because I have paid for the time of the reservation.
However I have reserved sites in private parks and only pay for one day. The rest of my stay will be paid for when I arrive. That seems the best system.

Lantley wrote:

afidel wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
Interesting article. Sounds like there is an institutional failure at Colorado State Parks.

I was at Lassen Volcanic National Park the other week and the camphost checked for no shows and opened the empty campsites that same day. And this was without cell service or wifi in the campground. Very effective.

Hmm, I'm not sure I'm ok with that. If I've got a week long reservation that I've paid for and something has delayed me a day (weather, mechanical issue, food poisoning, whatever) I shouldn't lose my entire stay because I can't get there on the first day. Heck, I've had traffic accidents that caused such delays on trips that an 8pm arrival became 1am and I decided to Walmart the first night so as not to be rude to the other campers, being courteous shouldn't be penalized.

If they've got a way to contact the park and you're a no show no call on day 2 then fine cancel the reservation to free the spot up but otherwise I payed for the spot and if I need to delay my arrival then so be it.

I think the responsibilty should be on the camper to contact the CG if there is an delay or arrival issue. Not the other way around.
No contact from camper within the 1st 24 hours and the site should be available to others. That gives the camper 24 hours to inform CG which should be ample time to make contact.

I think we agree, toedtoes was talking about a location without communications clearing out sites in less than 24 hours. You should absolutely need to contact the park before close of business on day 2 to keep your site.

I don't think people should be able to shonow and keep the site unused. Perhaps a day with a requirment to make contact. There are far to many campers and too few sites to let them go empty. Also there are many that could care less if they lose the meager fees in order to keep a site available just in case. JMHO

Lantley wrote:

If you never showed up, and don't call you forfeit the right to use site. Why should the site go unused? It's not about the money. If you have unforseeable circumstances call CG and expalin when you plan to arrive otherwise you forfeit.
There are those wealthy enough to book every site in the CG for an entire month. Do they get to tie up the CG without occupying the sites simply because they can afford to?

I agree completely. Day before yesterday we left a campground that had 25 empty sites and 15 of those were reserved. That was on a Monday night. Every weekend every site is booked, and there are ALWAYS empty sites. If you don't show up, you should lose the site, and the chance to reserve next time. I do agree with the option to call the campground and have an excuse. No call, no reservation, give it to someone that is looking for a site. It would make people take a little responsibility for themselves.

This was and is at a state campground. Private parks can set their own rules.