In conclusion I spoke to Va park staff today. I was told that each park sets their own policy concerning group camping and how sites are allocated.
I then spoke to staff at Westmoreland and was told the policy is to hand out all passes to the person who reserved the sites. That person can than claim sites regardless if the campers have arrived or not.
In the end what I experienced was the policy of Westmoreland State Park.
So it appears I was not gamed at all.The policy gives group campers priority and preferences that individual campers do not enjoy.
