Zephyr Cove Charging $75 a night!

avoidcrowds wrote:
While the Govt. used to operate all the campgrounds, they were being subsidized by other sources of revenue (our taxes). So, we all were paying something for the campgrounds. With concessionaires operating the campgrounds, taxpayers should be paying less, or maybe zero, and those of us who use the campgrounds pay for them. I am okay with me paying for what I use, and others that don't use it not subsidizing my activities. But, I don't live in California.

I don't think anyone is saying it should be free. Just that it should be affordable to the average citizen as much as possible.

As for the taxpayers not having to pay, that is great. However, when a for profit concessionaire takes over the campground, that additional money paid by those camping is not going to support the campground as much as it is going to support the concessionaire.

Normally, fees paid to one very popular campground will help support other less popular campgrounds. This means that folks can have the option of where they want to stay. When for profit concessionaires take over a very popular campground, those moneys go into corporate pockets - not back into the campground system. So those lesser known campgrounds often end up losing money that keeps them in operation. A lot depends on the individual contract and the business plan of the concessionaire.

It's not a black and white answer. As I said above, I can see both sides.

And again, Aramark does not have a great reputation. I wonder how people will feel about these rates when Aramark doesn't provide upkeep to this "resort" at a level consistent with a resort versus a USFS campground.