Golden Age etc and Bighorn Nat Rec Area

[Jbird]

NPS has put the campground here with a concessionaire. Now there is no discount at a federal campground for seniors,veterans etc. I guess its important that this group be targeted for $$$ increase.The selling of America.

[monkey44]

I expect half the revenue during off-season, and a significant portion during in-season comes from seniors or disabled, or veterans with the half-price discount.

I also believe without the discount, many of these folks might not come as often or to the same places ... if one can get a full-service private campground for a few bucks more (excluding the high-end "luxury" CGs).

So, disallowing the discount, will at least upset those who qualify, and also allow them to make different choices, and those non-discount vendors will lose in the long run.

Once again, it becomes about profit and not about customer caring ... the vendors sign a contract knowing full well about discount policies, but instantly begin manipulations to deny it, and attempt to increase profits on the backs of seniors (whose taxes build the parks) and those less fortunate disabled.

With a longer-term perspective, it makes more sense to raise the price one or two bucks for everyone, and leave the discounts in place. That way, everyone gets the benefit of increased revenue, but not on only one segment of its customer base.

[Jbird]

WE-C-USA wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Which campground are you talking about? Horseshoe Bend is the only one operating on pilot program.
Says here that discount is still available!
Horseshoe Bend

Back to the OP. Which CG in Bighorn, OP made a statement & has been the only one not replied. 😞

Sorry. Ive been without cell service for a couple days. Re the practice of paying full for electric and half for camp site,i tried to do exactly that at Horseshoe Bend and was corrected--full price for Golden Age. Period. I recall the same stunt by concessionaires a few years ago that was promptly nixed by public pressure.

[Jbird]

enblethen wrote:
Which campground are you talking about? Horseshoe Bend is the only one operating on pilot program.
Says here that discount is still available!
Horseshoe Bend

Its not still available. I talked to host and then to ranger at headquarters. They say the concessionaire has the right to charge what it wants. Concessionaire raised the price for seniors and disabled,but kept it the same as NPS for everybody else.


The concessionaire,as of June 1, does not accept any passes authorized by Congress.

[bobsallyh]

ReneeG, you just had to post that picture after we just left several days ago! Yep, we were back where that GMC is in the picture. Had quite a turn over in #64, but then again we were there for the max of 16 days.

[2gypsies1]

enblethen wrote:
Which campground are you talking about? Horseshoe Bend is the only one operating on pilot program.
Says here that discount is still available!
Horseshoe Bend

Yes, according to the web site Horseshoe Bend is being run by Hidden Treasure Charter but it also states that the Golden Age/Access is accepted. Also, electric sites in any park is always an extra. It's only 1/2 off the standard rate.

[ReneeG]

Jbird is the OP and didn't ask a question, but rather made a statement. enblethen asked the OP which CG they were referring to.

[WE-C-USA]

enblethen wrote:
Which campground are you talking about? Horseshoe Bend is the only one operating on pilot program.
Says here that discount is still available!
Horseshoe Bend

Back to the OP. Which CG in Bighorn, OP made a statement & has been the only one not replied. 😞

[ReneeG]

bobsallyh wrote:
ReneeG, we were on #63, the first of two solar sites after you come around the bend headed towards the host sites. There are two there and you walk about 100' to edge of the Madison. There are two also that are at the top of the loop on the left hand side. Ours is on the right hand side of the cg road. No matter how many times we go there, it just gets better and better!

I know that site well. We were last in site 64.

[monkey44]

As a side note: We just discovered Bighorn Nat Rec area last year - pretty awesome area ...

A bit out of the way to get there, but well worth the effort -- Especially if you haul a boat (we do not) but had a ball there anyway.

[bobsallyh]

ReneeG, we were on #63, the first of two solar sites after you come around the bend headed towards the host sites. There are two there and you walk about 100' to edge of the Madison. There are two also that are at the top of the loop on the left hand side. Ours is on the right hand side of the cg road. No matter how many times we go there, it just gets better and better!

[ReneeG]

bobsallyh wrote:
Several years ago, there was a movement by some concessionaires to try to eliminate the half-price camping fee. Once word leaked out thru several RV oriented organizations this went nowhere! We just left Bakers Hole Thursday AM. If not using a Senior Pass and you are on a power site , the charge is $16.00 for the camp site and an additional $7.00 for power. If using the Pass, and you are on a power site, the camping fee is $8.00 plus power of $7.00 for a total of $15.00. If using a non power site with Pass it is $8.00. Non Pass user on non power site is $16.00. Fortunately when we got there our favorite solar site was available. So we stayed 16 days at $8.00 a day for a grand total of $128.00!

Our favorite non electric, solar site there is one of two pull throughs in a row facing the Madison River.

[enblethen]

I will point out that there is a difference between concessionaires and contractors. Many of our Forest Service campgrounds are contractors.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

The concessionaire may or may not have put in the electrical boxes. But the concessionaire must pay the ongoing electric bill. And in some CG I know in Texas the concessionaire must pay for all the work related to the water system and sewer system.

I’m sure there are a few exceptions to the general rule across the country. But most new concession contracts are standardized now days.

[bobsallyh]

Several years ago, there was a movement by some concessionaires to try to eliminate the half-price camping fee. Once word leaked out thru several RV oriented organizations this went nowhere! We just left Bakers Hole Thursday AM. If not using a Senior Pass and you are on a power site , the charge is $16.00 for the camp site and an additional $7.00 for power. If using the Pass, and you are on a power site, the camping fee is $8.00 plus power of $7.00 for a total of $15.00. If using a non power site with Pass it is $8.00. Non Pass user on non power site is $16.00. Fortunately when we got there our favorite solar site was available. So we stayed 16 days at $8.00 a day for a grand total of $128.00!