Senior Pass Price Hike
Just in case you have not heard, the Senior Pass is going from $10 to $80 on August 28th.
Forum Discussion
monkey44 wrote:tdst51 wrote:monkey44 wrote:
The feds need to increase revenue in the parks - it's been $10 forever, and now it's still a huge bargain ... a few nights in a park with park admission and it pays for itself.
Regards the COE parks, we're been all over the USA in COE whenever they are available. WE've never been to one that did not discount with the pass. I do know that some of the sub-contractors that operate the parks continuously push for NO Discount - which we hope never happens.
Not that we mind even paying full price for camping as long as the extra money GOES TO THE PARK. But, those parks that don't honor the discount, just keep the extra $$$ - which is the unfair part of it, well, unfair to the campers and unfair to the federal budget - which is its citizens.
The COE park in Pontiac, MO gives no discount whatsoever, regardless if
you have the s
enior pass or not. Again, NO DISCOUNT. It's the subcontractors choice whether to discount or not. There's plenty that don't.
That's when I'd fire off a note to my Senator and ask why this contractor got the bid ... and where the additional funds go if we pay the full price. As usual, when prices begins rising, the discounts (we earned) go first, instead of raising the price one or two bucks for everyone, they take $10 + from seniors. :(
Contractors do not "run" most parks. They are contracted to run certain concessions in the parks at the Federal level be it COE, National parks, whatever. They are contracted to operate campgrounds, admission facilities, janitoral services, lodges, etc. The park is still "operated" by the government.
There are a few COE facilities such as this one that the Corps leased the entire campground over to a private entity and frankly they ruined it. Scroll down to the camping section. The ACOE still operates 2 of the 3 but leased the Tub Run campground to a rafting outfitter. Its essentially a private campground.
Tub Run
What a park brings in revenue wise matters not. Its all sent back to Washington and then operating funds are appropriated back when the morons in Washington finally get around to adopting the yearly budget, if they ever do so.
