This is similar to a common problem in the non-reservables in IL. In order to claim the site, it has to be occupied. What people do in my favorite park is come to the park (over 200 sites, 20 of which are reservable) and tie a Barbie tent or other indoor play tent, to the post on the site. My understanding goes a little farther if the site has been paid for, but often that's not the case. I get really irritable when nobody shows all weekend and the prime, waterfront site goes unused.
I know people will say "Why didn't you just park on the pad and pay for the site anyway." Well I did that once, and during the night had people messing with my equipment. As a solo woman camping, it's not worth it.
On the flip side, my daughter and SIL went to this same park to grab a site, and I was coming later with my camper. They were in an SUV, which was used as their camper. The host wouldn't let them pay for that site because they'd mentioned I was coming with a camper. So? I guess she's telling them they can't use their screen hammock and/or SUV to camp, although it's done all the time. I suppose they could have lied and said they were sleeping in a tent. But, hey, a Barbie tent is okay, just not an SUV.
Another game that's played is that day use people will pull their vehicle onto the pad and sit and watch the boaters or fish. They haven't paid, but they're occupying. I asked one gentleman if he was planning to pay and camp on that site, and his response was "I might". So I went to the host to book it. Her response was "well you can't because he's occupying it. He will probably come up later to pay." So while I'm waiting, other waterfront sites are being taken by new arrivals.
He ended up pulling off the site an hour later, leaving nothing behind, although he was pulling a boat trailer. I took the site. I later went to pay after unhitching, and the host had called the park ranger because the guy became livid with her.
People also park their extra car in a site to hold it for a friend. They may pay or not, but the site isn't occupied by the people camping. That also isn't fair to those driving through looking for a site.
Ugh. I feel your pain.
