National Park Service has it all wrong!!??

Any one know when the price is supposed to increase on this pass.
I turn 62 on july 31 and will be getting my pass on aug 1. 10 bucks or 80 bucks still a deal

Regarding the concessioners - here's a viewpoint:

https://www.quora.com/How-does-Grand-Canyon-National-Park-make-money-What-does-it-do-with-profits

I hear you on the contractors take on the money they rack in.. My MIL worked in Glacier at Lake McDonald lodge gift shop some 3 yrs ago during the busy season. She was telling us they might do 2 to 5K a day sales on stuff in store.. average as close to 3.5K a day..

This was not the centennial season but 2is yrs prior but they did have stuff celebrating the event.

Not sure what % they get vs the NPS but I am guessing it low for NPS.. It might need to be something closer to 60-40. Would be interesting to find out if that is public info you find online. l will ask MIL to she is aware of what that amount might be.

are any of the contractors public companies that might give info on profits and cost.??

<<<<<>>>>>>
just talked to MIL and she was saying they, the gift shop contractor, got 100% of the money.. no split with Lodge or NPS.. not sure is that is true now but WOW,, WTF for sure..

fulltimedaniel wrote:
If we as a group are really interested in how the National Parks are paid and their long term financial health then the issue to be upset about is the Parks CONTRACT AGREEMENTS with the companies who have stores and other operations inside our parks.

Those contracts help insure that the Parks get very little of most of the money you actually spend in the parks at the gas stations, restaurants, Lodges etc. Our parks are being virtually cheated in a series of very bad contracts while the public is subjected to prices that are robbery at best.

The Parks languish in poor maintenance, broken infrastructure and low salaries While it's contractors are making huge profits from overcharging the visitors, paying low salaries and contractually scr**ing the parks with laughable percentages or rents.

Write to the National Parks Director and demand that the Parks drive a harder bargain with these contractors. This alone would put MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars almost immediately into the Parks system.

Lastly in my view the Parks should put a cap on the price of all park services by contractors ie groceries, gas etc. so that what they charge is no more than 10 per cent over the national average of the cost of that item.

This is the real issue to me NOT what the annual passes cost. The real money is in the contracts not the fees.

If we as a group are really interested in how the National Parks are paid and their long term financial health then the issue to be upset about is the Parks CONTRACT AGREEMENTS with the companies who have stores and other operations inside our parks.

Those contracts help insure that the Parks get very little of most of the money you actually spend in the parks at the gas stations, restaurants, Lodges etc. Our parks are being virtually cheated in a series of very bad contracts while the public is subjected to prices that are robbery at best.

The Parks languish in poor maintenance, broken infrastructure and low salaries While it's contractors are making huge profits from overcharging the visitors, paying low salaries and contractually scr**ing the parks with laughable percentages or rents.

Write to the National Parks Director and demand that the Parks drive a harder bargain with these contractors. This alone would put MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars almost immediately into the Parks system.

Lastly in my view the Parks should put a cap on the price of all park services by contractors ie groceries, gas etc. so that what they charge is no more than 10 per cent over the national average of the cost of that item.

This is the real issue to me NOT what the annual passes cost. The real money is in the contracts not the fees.

My argument was NOT that they should not raise the Senior Pass. I have no probem with that I was arguing against Raising the Senior pass while LOWERING the others which was the OP's original statement.

Most popular parks are at or over capacity and you need a reservation in advance as much as a year. And in some parks if you don't get on the computer at the exact SECOND the reservations open you dont get one.

The Parks system cannot increase capacity they have a fixed number of campsites. They can only raise the prices of the existing campsites.

joelc wrote:
You might change your tune on the cost of the Senior pass when you stop working and have a fixed income.

here is an interesting post on nationalparkstraveler.com

"And how can anyone think an $80 lifetime pass will be "too expensive" for seniors who visit parks, since most of us do it in motorhomes or trailers? Many of them worth as much as some people's homes. Most Americans pay more than that each month for TV subscriptions or cell phones. If we don't camp, we don't seem to object to paying $120+++ for a night's stay at a motel somewhere.

Have you priced admission to a professional ball game or theater presentation lately? We don't seem to mind forking out a couple hundred per ticket to help pay "salaries" of players who are often paid more for one ball game than a teacher, firefighter, nurse, or park ranger earns in an entire year.

$80 for a LIFETIME pass to almost anything is really an incredible bargain. As for the argument that we pay taxes to support our parks, have you checked to see how many of your local tax dollars went to subsidize the stadium your favorite sports team's millionaire owners convinced the city council to pay for?

I think that covers it...

so i guess you have not seen the news the rates have changed.
"senior pass" is now, or will soon be $80 for lifetime pass and rest of the passes will stay same price as last year.

fulltimedaniel wrote:

carl2591 wrote:
I believe the NPS should change what they charge for the NPS passes.

right now the cost are as follows.

America the Beautiful Annual pass- $80
America the Beautiful Senior pass- $10
America the Beautiful Access pass- free for permanently disabled.
America the Beautiful military pass- free to active military.

The Annual pass should cost only $50 and the Senior Pass should be $80. (that is lifetime.)

10 bucks for something that last a lifetime after age 62 is crazy. Just goes to show how little government knows about cost to run stuff.

Me i am looking forward to getting my Senior pass in 2 yrs and if I have to pay 80 bucks for it then its still a STEAL..

Well your idea is wrong on so many levels it's hard to know where to start. I am sure you mean well but it sounds more like sour grapes.

First almost every country of any developed status at all have deep discounts for those that are retired, students and the War Veterans. So this is just in keeping with discounts for those over a certain age that are enjoyed at parks, restaurants and many other businesses.

As someone who has used the National Parks system for almost 60 years, and that counts being taken by my parents, I have supported the Parks with countless dollars over my working life.

The only financially responsible decision for the National Parks is the current rate system. It would be Bad policy to say nothing of bad economics to make the changes you call for.

Now I for one would find it interesting if you would support your idea with some logical argument. Why for example should the young, healthy and WORKING people who can afford to take a vacation get a deep discount leaving the bulk of the financial burden on those who are not working and on limited incomes?

I think the system is fair as structured and fiscally responsible too.

2gypsies wrote:
The Senior Pass is not only good for the national parks. It's gives entrance to many more types of national sites and there are many of them around you:

http://wikitravel.org/en/United_States_National_Parks

That's nice, but not a single facility listed charges an admission. The Gulf Island National Seashore is the only place I know of, within 500 miles of me that charges an admission charge. There are actually few places east of the Mississippi that allow me to use my pass when compared to the West. Not only are there fewer National Parks, most of them' like Smoky Mountain National park are free to enter. BLM land in the East is practically nonexistent.

The Senior Pass, however, is, and has been, useful to to me many times at federal campgrounds, such as U. S. Army Corps parks.

You might change your tune on the cost of the Senior pass when you stop working and have a fixed income.

Thank you, fulltimedaniel, well said. And I would be willing to bet that a very good portion of the donations in the Park boxes comes from those, like me, who have a Senior Pass. They "pay" well in excess of the $80 - and it stays local in the Parks, not off to the politics of DC.