National Park and National Forests Bummer
I camp in National Forest Campgrounds around my home state and with my senior pass I get 1/2 price camping. To my surprise I got a measely 10% discount in the Everglades campground. Huh? It's under a ...
Forum Discussion
Not questioning the validity of the Senior pass. I have mine and happily use it whenever I can. Just trying to provide info on how the program came about and the realities of the concessionaire program.
Sure, I would like to have everything I want, and a 50% discount everywhere would be great. But I'm glad I get to use the pass where I can, and I understand that everything is not as simple as saying "I want this, so it should be that way."
Very likely, if the concessionaire program did not exist, or if no concessioners bid on a contract because it wouldn't be profitable to run a business at that campground, then many campgrounds would be closed and not available for our use, because the USFS, BLM, NPS or other agencies simply don't have the staff or resources to keep every campground open. Or they may stay open, but at a much reduced service level, with less trash pickup, toilet cleaning, patrol, rule enforcement, etc.
And yet, many concession-run campgrounds do honor the discount when they can afford to do so.
Again, it is easy to say "I want This or that" but there are always trade offs with any decision.
Sure, I would like to have everything I want, and a 50% discount everywhere would be great. But I'm glad I get to use the pass where I can, and I understand that everything is not as simple as saying "I want this, so it should be that way."
Very likely, if the concessionaire program did not exist, or if no concessioners bid on a contract because it wouldn't be profitable to run a business at that campground, then many campgrounds would be closed and not available for our use, because the USFS, BLM, NPS or other agencies simply don't have the staff or resources to keep every campground open. Or they may stay open, but at a much reduced service level, with less trash pickup, toilet cleaning, patrol, rule enforcement, etc.
And yet, many concession-run campgrounds do honor the discount when they can afford to do so.
Again, it is easy to say "I want This or that" but there are always trade offs with any decision.
