National Park and National Forests Bummer

dewey02 wrote:
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.

This is not a recent program. If you research the history of the national parks, you will find that many of the iconic lodges in the most popular parks were not only operated from their construction by private contractors, but built by those companies. The first of those were often railroads and local ranchers.

Just a few examples are Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite. The Yellowstone Park Company was primarily owned by the Northern Pacific Railroad. The Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier was built and operated by the Great Northern Railroad. And the Ahwahnee Hotel (now named "Majestic Yosemite Hotel") in Yosemite was built and operated by two families who originally lived on ranches in Yosemite Valley.

So, we might not have many facilities in the parks at all if "concessionaires" hadn't popularized them from the late 1800's through the 1920's.

PS--I have a Senior Pass and use it constantly, with absolutely no second thoughts. And I stay in COE campgrounds whenever I am near one because they are the nicest facilities and best prices anywhere. IMHO, they are nicer than any private RV "resort" I have ever stayed in!