Harrington Beach State Park Port Washington Wisconsin

[hbillsmith]

Unbelievable Scam being perpetrated by official park rangers! This is a state park that provides electric only hookups for $33 a day no discounts for seniors. But wait there's more. You can only reserve thru reserve America and pay in full for all days. But what you won't be told is there's a secret additionall $11 a day fee to park your tow vehicle at your campsite!

When you show up and check in at the office, you still won't be told of the secret $11 a day add on fee. I even specifically asked are their any other fees I owe and was told nope you prepaid everything thru ReservAm. We were given a receipt tag and told to attach it to the post at our campsite. My wife asked what about a dash card or something for our truck and the reply was that it wasn't needed.

Then later that night about 8pm Park Ranger Tom Kultgen came to our campsite and wrote us a ticket for $44 the amount he said we owed for 4 days parking for our tow vehicle. When I explained the park said nothing about any such fee when Ranger Robin checked us in he said camping and parking were separate and it wasn't his problem that we weren't told by the Park checkin, not told by reserve America. He advised we could park our vehicles about 1 1/2 miles away out on the state highway outside the park.

In the last 12 months we stayed at Wissota State park in Caddott WI and at Miller RV park in Dubuque WI both public WI parks. Never did we get scammed for a Rangers Vehicle Fee like we did at Harrington Beach State Park in Port Washington WI by ranger Tom and get this, he said it was a WI state fee

Please understand, none of this made up. It is all true. If you think $44 a night is a good rate for elec only state park then just make sure you force the front office to fess up and take the money, otherwise stick around to meet Wisconsin Park Ranger Tom Kultgen.

[Campfire_Time]

I would certainly contact the WI DNR as suggested above. The ranger was not running a scam but the front office screwed up. It happens. But I can tell you being a WI resident this is not the norm. We've camped in many of the state parks, and they always ask if we have a sticker or if we need one.

If you stayed at Lake Wissota State park you should have been changed a daily vehicle fee. Again, might be worth mentioning when you call the DNR.

Miller RV park in Dubuque is in Iowa, not WI. Different state, different rules.

[hbillsmith]

You missed part of the story. When checking in at the park office we specifically asked if we needed a placard or something for the vehicle. We also presented a credit card and asked if there were any additional fees that had not already been paid thru ResvAm We were told nothing else needed by both the desk clerk AND the Ranger who was in the office at that time. If it smells like a scam, it is a scam.

rr2254545 wrote:
No scam at all

From their website

Vehicle admission stickers

A vehicle admission sticker is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state park, forest, recreation area and trail parking areas. Buy your sticker when you get to the park or in advance. You can buy an annual sticker, for admission to all state parks and forests for the calendar year, or a daily sticker which is valid for the date of issue.

The 2016 annual stickers are valid through Dec. 31, 2016.


Vehicle admission sticker fees

Annual

Reduced Rate
Annual*

Daily

One-hour**


Vehicle with WI license plates $28 $15.50 $8 $5
Vehicle with WI plates, resident age 65 and older $13 -- $3 --
Vehicle with out-of-state plates $38 $20.50 $11 $5
Bus, Wisconsin license -- -- $11 --
Bus, out-of-state -- -- $15 --
*Reduced rate annual stickers are for additional vehicles registered to the same household address.
**One-hour stickers are not available at all properties.

[rr2254545]

No scam at all

From their website

Vehicle admission stickers

A vehicle admission sticker is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state park, forest, recreation area and trail parking areas. Buy your sticker when you get to the park or in advance. You can buy an annual sticker, for admission to all state parks and forests for the calendar year, or a daily sticker which is valid for the date of issue.

The 2016 annual stickers are valid through Dec. 31, 2016.


Vehicle admission sticker fees

Annual

Reduced Rate
Annual*

Daily

One-hour**


Vehicle with WI license plates $28 $15.50 $8 $5
Vehicle with WI plates, resident age 65 and older $13 -- $3 --
Vehicle with out-of-state plates $38 $20.50 $11 $5
Bus, Wisconsin license -- -- $11 --
Bus, out-of-state -- -- $15 --
*Reduced rate annual stickers are for additional vehicles registered to the same household address.
**One-hour stickers are not available at all properties.

[rexlion]

Wow, that's such a welcoming attitude for tourism! (Not.)

You could head north to Badger Park in Peshtigo for more affordable camping.

[kknowlton]

Either Harrington Beach (the newest WI SP to add a campground) is administered differently than every other WI SP, or Ranger Tom has a good scam going. If I were you, I'd contact WI DNR and check this with them.