2gypsies, that is not what I did. I overbooked so that I could get a campsite when I wanted. I changed the reservation between the time of booking and time of original checkin to change the change checkin date so that others could use that site.
Popular campgrounds in Michigan sell out Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend 6 months earlier (and 15 days) within minutes. I have successfully used this process about 50 times. For example this year I an staying at Ludington State Park Sunday June 29-Sunday July 6th. I booked 15 nights last Dec 21 for June 21-July 6. All sites available for checkin on June21 were gone within 30 seconds. So now I call to change my reservation to check in June 29 and someone else gets June 21-June29 morn. My site will be filled each night that I originally booked and cancelled.
So I had two issues with my Plate River reservation. First was the person with whom I spoke did not actually modify my reservation. Second I received no notification that my campsite was canceled due to "no show" a week later. Yes I'm bitter about that experience and my DW will never stay there.
I do agree that overbooking is poor taste. However, the Michigan State Park reservation system is designed in a manor and supply/demand at a point where that is what has to be done. I could think of a couple ways to change the system such that it is not necessary or even possible, but for now that is the reservation situation in Michigan.
