soren wrote:
CharlesinGA wrote:
I agree it is a ripoff. ...
Charles
...the vast majority of users are from out of state, ...
One thing I've learned over the years, if you REALLY want something, you've got to pay the price to get it. It may be monetary, time, or one's resources and energy, but anything of value costs!
When we were in the Black Hills - Custer area the first 2 weeks in July this year, we did not find prices of anything overly extravagant. Actually, compared to some other parts of the country, prices for everything were pretty much right in line.
We stayed at Buffalo Ridge Campground. It's a Good Sam associated campground. Their prices, in my opinion, were right in line with other Good Sam campgrounds we've stayed at, all the way from Florida, to Indiana, to Virginia, to Southern Missouri, to South Dakota. We made reservations early, got a good deal, paid well in advance, so it was not taxing on the finances one little bit. We also paid for our daughter's campsite, about a month after we made our reservations, and we got lucky and was able to rent one of the TP's for one night. Even the TP's rents were reasonable. Considering the amenities at the park, the close proximity to virtually everything, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the price was well ... WELL within reason!
Yes, the campgrounds and attractions have their overhead expenses. But consider entrance fees to Disney World or Six Flag amusement parks, at over $100 a day for a single person, and $40 a night at a campground for an entire family and full hook-ups at that, is .. well ... chicken feed.
How about the various attractions?
The pass into Custer State Park is $20 and good for 7 days. I thought the price was a little high at the Reptile Zoo, especially when adding the cost of 4 adults and 4 kids. But, call it customer "gouging"!??? No! They have their costs and if you are not willing to pay, well ... simple ... go away! NOTHING is twisting your arm to go there, no one is putting a gun to your head to go. It's YOUR choice. If the cost is too high, you can walk away.
For us, it was an experience of a life-time! We knew there would be costs, we save for it, planned for it, and then enjoyed spending it!
What about other costs in the ENTIRE area? We ate out a lot as we were on the road. We purchased a ton of gifts and trinkets for friends and family back home. From the Custer State Park sweatshirt, to the Corn Palace T-shirt, or the buffalo purse for my wife, or the stuffed buffalo plush toy for my grandson at home, or the local craftsman sign maker who made us our "Love Shack" sign for the camper, we so nothing extravagant with prices for anything, anywhere while there.
We left with $1200 spending money --- cash --- and returned with $700 still in our pocket! That included all attractions, food on the road, and every other crazy thing we ended up doing on some of those spur of the moment events, totally unexpected 2 weeks of, not having a clue what to expect, because we've never been there before experinece.
Should the citizens of South Dakota foot the bill for all of this stuff so tourists, like myself, expecting everything to be handed out? Absolutely not! As a consumer, I have the responsibility to pay the price, support the cause, and pay the bill. Otherwise, I have the option to go somewhere else.
One thing we did NOT do was pay to see Crazy Horse. Here is one attraction "I" personally felt was a ripoff. Besides, you can see the monument from the road.
Rip off? Well? only if YOU think so. If so, don't go! We made that choice on one attraction.
