Empty parks with no open sites.

ferndaleflyer wrote:
I don't do state parks and such but in the past I have rented out about everything to others and have rented about as much for my own use. And if this in fact goes on its just asking for trouble unless it is made very plain in the contract that you can keep my money or lease my spot to someone else just because I am not there. You have to reserve and pay a year in advance and then show up late to find someone else has your spot? Get real. They keep a weeks worth of money for a year and don't have a spot for you? It would take a fool to fall for that trap. Now if it is made plain in the contract that this goes on after you have to pay a year out, I wouldn't go near the place...I don't think I have ever been sent a contract when reserving a camp site. So much for reading the FINE print. Does this really go on?

This is common with many rental businesses. Don't show up for a hotel room and after a predetermined time, they can sell the room to someone else.

For the most part, they have gone to online reservation systems and make you check a box that you have read the rules, so no claiming you didn't get the contract terms.

Ultimately, they are renting sites in areas that are generally much nicer than most private parks at much cheaper than market rates, so people will continue to book under these terms and as you keep overlooking, the parks have an obligation to serve all the public.