Nat'l Park senior discount, too cheap?

Escargot wrote:
Absolutely too cheap! I was flabberghasted by the $10 lifetime discount.
I'd rather see seniors, of which I am one, pay $10 per year for the same discount. Our park system is in woeful need of funds.

I think this is a good idea. $10 a year is still a 87.5% discount off the price of a regular pass, plus one gets 50% off of camping on top of that discount with the senior pass.

If one is able to use the pass for 10 years (until 72 say), that's $1 per year vs. $80 per year for the poor guy in the tent with his family in a six year old car who is trying to show his kids the wonders of this country. I don't think asking seniors to pay $10 per year is too much to ask.

My DH got a National Parks Senior discount card a few years ago, and when we tried to use it in February at Mount Rushmore, we were told Mount Rushmore does not honor that card. So much for "National"!
I cannot remember which one it is but we got it at Devil's Tower, another of the National Parks. And the information packet said it is useable at ALL National Parks.

I bet "lauren" is correct and the entrance fee just goes into the government's general fund and the park only gets what was already established by the budget. Buy something from one of the volunteer organizations that support the park instead.

Just a re-visit after reading thru this.

The story goes, true or not, they started charging $10 because all the old codgers would keep losing them and they just ask for another. They were also just a paper "card" at the time.

So, if an effort to help oldies keep better track of things they started charging the $10 - this might have been about 10 years ago.

Then, in keeping up with the technology and all, they switched to the swipe cards - am guessing about 8 years ago.

We love the National Parks and have hiked and enjoyed many of them. When living in Estes Park we spent LOTS of time in Rocky - serious hiking, snowshoeing, picnicing, lots of photo work, etc. We drove a loop thru there in the early mornings or evenings many times after supper just to enjoy.

What each one chooses to do about the card is a personal decision. I / we have them and use them. But, much of the time, leave a donation in the box.

Enjoy, we are blessed to have this out there for us.

I believe the underlying point is not that the OP could donate or not show the card but why is there discrimination against the young?

If they want to set up a program for the poor to get a discount, I might buy that but if you are 70yrs old with $10million in the bank driving a $750k MH, why are we giving you a free entrance to the parks?

The "I pay taxes" doesn't hold up. I'm in my 40's and I pay taxes also.

Not an earth shattering issue but he has a point when park budgets are constantly being whittled away and the parks suffer.

I get a little feel-good happy glow moment every time the ranger waves us in without having to shell out money. I think of the 10 bucks as merely a token service charge for distributing the cards. Let's keep it cheap so everyone will get one.

It's a "government program" that encourages older people to get out of the house, take easy hikes in the fresh air, bring along the grand kids to learn about America's heritage, pump some money into the local economy surrounding the park, enjoy all the beauty of our country we never had time to visit when we were working long hours, and generally feel proud to be Americans when we see all those foreign visitors marveling at our natural treasures.

That's not a bad return on investment.

To be honest, I'd never heard of a lot of the NPs and Historical Sites we have visited until we hit the road with the card. Knowing admission is free encourages us to stop and learn, now that we have the time. The best $10 we ever spent!

I also have to agree with many others that have responded. If you don't want the discount, don't ask for it by showing the card!

Leave it alone for those of us that don't share your feelings of guilt.

In my opinion entrance into state and national parks should be free for everyone since the land was acquired either by donation or tax dollars.

Services received (like a campsite for example) should be paid for. However for the family that wants to have a picnic, go for a hike, or see the sights, it should be free.

I contributed to society, and government coffers for 50 years of work.

This pass is a little "give back", and I will take it.

As others have said, if you don't want the discount, don't use the card, but leave the rest of us alone.

In a little more than a year, I will finally qualify for the Senior Pass, for the past 39 years I have purchased a Golden Eagle (National Park Pass). Most of the time I never even used it enough to say I broke even. However I never felt like I didn't get my money's worth, as the National Park Service can use the extra money.

Bob

1775 wrote:
If you don't want the discount, don't show the card. Getting that lifetime card for $10 was the first tangible thing I have ever gotten for the taxes I have paid for so many years!

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