Va. St parks and pet fee

I anxiously await your report Brian, meantime I have started contacting my local representatives and working my way around thru "the system" to find out what the reasoning and what's necessary to change it.

I posted on this a little while back. I am going to do a small article on it for our website. I contacted the director of the Virginia State Parks directly and he replied with a letter with their reasoning. I will try and work and get that posted sometime soon.

mobeewan wrote:
I always clean up after my animals. So if they want to charge a pet fee than I don't have worry about cleaning up after them since I will be paying for it in advance.

Nice thought. Hopefully, every place you camp the people next to you will be loud, obnoxious drunks. Their dogs and children will run wild. They will carry on like wild animals, because, hey, they paid their fee for the site and thus earned the right to do what the heck ever they want.

mobeewan wrote:
I always clean up after my animals. So if they want to charge a pet fee than I don't have worry about cleaning up after them since I will be paying for it in advance.

Bottom line is everyone doesn't clean up after their pet. Why pet owners are in denial and don't believe pets cost the CG more money?
From clean up,to tie up,to barking issues CG's must deal with pets.
In the end CG's need more manpower to deal with pets. Why shouldn't pet owners pay?
The CG could charge everyone the pet fee,but instead they charge the pet owners the fee. If you don't want to pay the fee camp elsewhere but failing to clean up is irresponsible and only contributes to the problem.

Oaklevel wrote:

Lantley wrote:

3 dog nights wrote:
I can't afford the State Park's. I used to go all the time, but $5 per night, per dog for the first 3 nights, ruins a weekend trip. As stated above Kiptopeake @ $37 per night + $15 for the dogs + $5 reservation fee a Fri/Sat night stay now cost me, $109. No thanks.
My three dogs weigh 25# combined and stay in the camper 98% of the time. If they want to control damage, charge for kids.
BTW, read recently that 75% of the camping public travels with a pet.

I feel your pain. I only have 1 dog so my fee is $15.00 vs. $45.00 is that correct?
At $45.00 I would certainly think VA parks do not want people with multiple pets camping there. They have set their prices to discourage those with multiple pets. I guess it's working.
On the flip side how much does it cost you to stay at a full hook up private park? $50.00-$60.00 per night in a non resort area?

Our local area full hookup campground which is in a busy area is $30 per night nothing extra for dogs or extra people or extra car........... I can go to Myrtle Beach for $35 Nov 1 through Easter & we do great time of year to go.............

Where is this $30.00 full hook up CG?
Granted the weather is decent in MB year round,but off season rates kind of cloud the issue.

I always clean up after my animals. So if they want to charge a pet fee than I don't have worry about cleaning up after them since I will be paying for it in advance.

Lantley wrote:

3 dog nights wrote:
I can't afford the State Park's. I used to go all the time, but $5 per night, per dog for the first 3 nights, ruins a weekend trip. As stated above Kiptopeake @ $37 per night + $15 for the dogs + $5 reservation fee a Fri/Sat night stay now cost me, $109. No thanks.
My three dogs weigh 25# combined and stay in the camper 98% of the time. If they want to control damage, charge for kids.
BTW, read recently that 75% of the camping public travels with a pet.

I feel your pain. I only have 1 dog so my fee is $15.00 vs. $45.00 is that correct?
At $45.00 I would certainly think VA parks do not want people with multiple pets camping there. They have set their prices to discourage those with multiple pets. I guess it's working.
On the flip side how much does it cost you to stay at a full hook up private park? $50.00-$60.00 per night in a non resort area?

Our local area full hookup campground which is in a busy area is $30 per night nothing extra for dogs or extra people or extra car........... I can go to Myrtle Beach for $35 Nov 1 through Easter & we do great time of year to go.............

Just wanted to mention that in both Maryland and Pennsylvania, pet sites are limited. If there are no pet sites available, you are out of luck.

In Virginia, all sites are pet sites but you must pay an extra fee. I have no problem paying a fee if I know a site will be available. Often in both MD and PA, one has to book months ahead to get a pet site.

In many private parks, one is limited by size, weight, number, and breed. Virginia doesn't do that.

I don't see it as a penalty, I see it as a benefit - I can bring as many dogs of any size or breed I want and camp in any space I want.

Lantley wrote:

3 dog nights wrote:
I can't afford the State Park's. I used to go all the time, but $5 per night, per dog for the first 3 nights, ruins a weekend trip. As stated above Kiptopeake @ $37 per night + $15 for the dogs + $5 reservation fee a Fri/Sat night stay now cost me, $109. No thanks.
My three dogs weigh 25# combined and stay in the camper 98% of the time. If they want to control damage, charge for kids.
BTW, read recently that 75% of the camping public travels with a pet.

I feel your pain. I only have 1 dog so my fee is $15.00 vs. $45.00 is that correct?
At $45.00 I would certainly think VA parks do not want people with multiple pets camping there. They have set their prices to discourage those with multiple pets. I guess it's working.
On the flip side how much does it cost you to stay at a full hook up private park? $50.00-$60.00 per night in a non resort area?

I feel your pain. I only have 1 dog so my fee is $15.00 vs. $45.00 is that correct? YES

COA parks - no reservation fee, no pet fee beautiful locations.
NFS parks - no pet fees (course fluberment shut them down this year)
Tried a KOA, didn't like the park or the fees.
Don't mind paying $50 per night if I know going in and am not being penalized over the next guy.

We don't spend our tourism dollars in Virginia for this very reason. If I'm going to pay and extra $20 per weekend just for my dogs, then either I'm going to leave their 'presents' for the park staff to clean up (since I'm paying for it already anyway) or I'll go to another state park where they don't try to drive off all pet owners because a few are irresponsible. Since we always clean up after my pets we opt for the later each time we pick a destination for our trips.

That said, if Virginia is honestly not attempting to keep pet owners away with this fee, then they should instead charge a dirty site penalty after the fact for those who leave messy sites (including dirty diapers in the fire rings, trash, etc.) just as car rental agencies and hotels do. To stay at the park you have to leave a credit card number or a cash deposit that will be returned to you once your site has been verified clean.

- R