Texas State Parks

[popeye766]

Iam on the road....stayed in a Texas State park in N Texas.....It was fairly run down and unkept compared to fed parks.....but the real kicker was the cost......$5.00 /each/per day entrance plus $16.00 for 30 amp/water.per day.We have stayed in beautiful Rv resorts in Reno and Colorado for less....I will never stay in another Texas State Park.

[monkey44]

Disabled veterans get a lifetime pass to enter the Texas parks ... and pay the full camping fee, but $5 the entrance is waived. You do not have to be a resident of Texas.

Unlike, South Dakota, which has a $6 entrance fee ON TOP of the camping fees. And the annual veterans pass is only available to residents, and only gives the camping at half-price, the $6 fee is charged for EVERY DAY, even if you're camping. In the case of one park (which we declined and went elsewhere) the SD park has a boat area and wanted to charge us a boat-launch fee, even tho we had no boat.

Disabled veterans (actually any disabled citizen) gets lifetime pass to national parks free ... good for entrance to national parks, forests, monuments, etc. And half-off for camping. Accept when we're shutdown, of course.

Unfortunately, many of the national parks now have extended contracts with vendors, and the vendors have taken many of the sites and added electrical pods and increased the price about $20 per day - and we get NO half off that.

The rates state the dry-camp sites are half off, and only a few remain. The rest in a specific park have been upgraded, but the discount does not apply.

So, anyone wanting to use it, half off the $19 camp fee, but add anywhere from $15-$20 for electrical and the fees jump to $28-34 per site, with discount. Doesn't seem right to me ... we developed (tax revenue and camping fees over many years) and now private vendors harvest the fruit.

Specifically, Teton National Park ... one campground has about 80 sites, but only 15 if you want dry-camp and discount. Only two dry-camp sites were open, so we nearly had to pay the upgrade fee, even tho we don't need nor want it.

OF course, say some, make a reservation - OKAY, and pay Reserve America an additional $9 for one night. Again, a little unfair.

Soon enough, ALL sites will be upgrade sites and upgrade fees. A little unfair to those of us who qualify, or pay the park pass every year.

Just as a side note - we built custom homes in California for many years. The temporary electrical pod cost me about $125 installed, and we used about $30 worth of electricity for the entire bill over three or four months (power saws, compressors, etc) ... So, I can imagine what it cost for one night RV (28" max) is probably less than a buck. SO, we pay $20 extra for that power, everything else was already in place.

AND the power of ONE word. In the older entrance passes, the wording states the bearer IS entitled to entrance and half off camping. The new passes state MAY BE entitled. A huge difference in application.

[Heisenberg]

The Texas Sporting Goods Tax is a bait and switch. The entry fee in Colorado State Parks are per vehicle. The entry fees for Texas State Parks are per person which is hard on families.

[garmp]

And I believe that if you are a veteran, not sure if only disabled veterans apply, the pass is free. But $10.00 for life isn't a bad deal. Several of the COE Parks at which we stay are $19.00 a nite for elect. 50% off the first night darn near pays for the card.

[Bonefish]

Bob Landry wrote:

Bonefish wrote:

Tom Trostel wrote:
Are you Texas residents aware of the "Texas Parklands Passport - Senior Partial" card? It is free, does not expire, and gives the holder a 50% discount on daily entry fees. It does not reduce camping fees and you must be 65 years old or older.link

Yes, some of us have not reached that age just yet. DH has 2 more years & me 5. DH has already signed up for the federal one at 60, just wish our state parks could do the same. Like going out to eat some places say 55 others 65, need to get on the same page.

Sharon

62 is the age requirement for the $10 National Park Pass.

I must be getting old too! Forgot it was 62, still wish the state parks could make it that age.

Sharon

[Bob_Landry]

Bonefish wrote:

Tom Trostel wrote:
Are you Texas residents aware of the "Texas Parklands Passport - Senior Partial" card? It is free, does not expire, and gives the holder a 50% discount on daily entry fees. It does not reduce camping fees and you must be 65 years old or older.link

Yes, some of us have not reached that age just yet. DH has 2 more years & me 5. DH has already signed up for the federal one at 60, just wish our state parks could do the same. Like going out to eat some places say 55 others 65, need to get on the same page.

Sharon

62 is the age requirement for the $10 National Park Pass.

[Bonefish]

Tom Trostel wrote:
Are you Texas residents aware of the "Texas Parklands Passport - Senior Partial" card? It is free, does not expire, and gives the holder a 50% discount on daily entry fees. It does not reduce camping fees and you must be 65 years old or older.link

Yes, some of us have not reached that age just yet. DH has 2 more years & me 5. DH has already signed up for the federal one at 60, just wish our state parks could do the same. Like going out to eat some places say 55 others 65, need to get on the same page.

Sharon

[Tom_Trostel]

Are you Texas residents aware of the "Texas Parklands Passport - Senior Partial" card? It is free, does not expire, and gives the holder a 50% discount on daily entry fees. It does not reduce camping fees and you must be 65 years old or older.link

[2112]

Bob Landry wrote:
Another point is that the collection of taxes to support the parks which you seem so adamantly against is collected on sporting goods and was established to be used to support the state park system. It just turns out that when the law was written, it was also written that the Legislature also had to budget that money collected to the TPWD and that is not and has not ever been done.

And THAT is my point exactly.
It's all wrong but some seem to accept better than others.

Carry on. The State Park Pass is a good buy if you use it.

[Bob_Landry]

2112 wrote:

Bob Landry wrote:

2112 wrote:

garmp1 wrote:
Missouri passed years ago a 1/8 of 1 percent sales tax for the state park system. That allows the state to not charge entrance fees and maintain the parks as well as acquire new lands, and keep moderate camping fees.

You TAX all to benefit the few! I only point this out because most people I know have probably never been to a state park and have no interest in going to one. Should they pay for my enjoyment?

There are a lot of benefits that I don't get to enjoy, i.e. social programs and handouts, but I have to pay for anyway. That's the way it works. it would be nice if we only had to pay for the services we receive. It that were the case, my cable bill would be a lot less

Social programs are designed to aid the needy. This is not the same. This enables the needy, by paying this tax, to subsidize the well off. If it is indeed a sales tax everyone takes the same bite. Social program revenue is generally generated through income tax on a sliding scale.

The point is, we can't pick and choose what we pay for, and there is little need to banter back and forth about that because it's not going to change

Another point is that the collection of taxes to support the parks which you seem so adamantly against is collected on sporting goods and was established to be used to support the state park system. It just turns out that when the law was written, it was also written that the Legislature also had to budget that money collected to the TPWD and that is not and has not ever been done. I would submit that there are very few social program recipients that are frequenting the sporting goods stores so basically, we are paying the tax to support the system and are being taxed again at the gate.

[Bonefish]

When you enter the website for TX parks it does show a place that tells about the park pass. If you also look at the fees area on the park you want to stay in has enterence fee & campsite fee. I do understand if paying for a campsite why pay an enterence fee on top of it. It is still a better deal than some private campgrounds, even without FHU's or cable or wifi. We stayed in OK at a state park not knowing what to expect as of last year they had no resveration site, it was find out once you arrive. I have learned over the years either to call the state we are visiting or dig on the website, some of the sites can be like putting a puzzle together. Most of the time I will ask an out of state visitor about their state parks system as they stay in ours. Like the campers we met in OK on our visit & in return I gave them info on TX state parks.

Sharon

[2112]

Bob Landry wrote:

2112 wrote:

garmp1 wrote:
Missouri passed years ago a 1/8 of 1 percent sales tax for the state park system. That allows the state to not charge entrance fees and maintain the parks as well as acquire new lands, and keep moderate camping fees.

You TAX all to benefit the few! I only point this out because most people I know have probably never been to a state park and have no interest in going to one. Should they pay for my enjoyment?

There are a lot of benefits that I don't get to enjoy, i.e. social programs and handouts, but I have to pay for anyway. That's the way it works. it would be nice if we only had to pay for the services we receive. It that were the case, my cable bill would be a lot less

Social programs are designed to aid the needy. This is not the same. This enables the needy, by paying this tax, to subsidize the well off. If it is indeed a sales tax everyone takes the same bite. Social program revenue is generally generated through income tax on a sliding scale.

[Bob_Landry]

2112 wrote:

garmp1 wrote:
Missouri passed years ago a 1/8 of 1 percent sales tax for the state park system. That allows the state to not charge entrance fees and maintain the parks as well as acquire new lands, and keep moderate camping fees.

You TAX all to benefit the few! I only point this out because most people I know have probably never been to a state park and have no interest in going to one. Should they pay for my enjoyment?

There are a lot of benefits that I don't get to enjoy, i.e. social programs and handouts, but I have to pay for anyway. That's the way it works. it would be nice if we only had to pay for the services we receive. It that were the case, my cable bill would be a lot less

[2112]

garmp1 wrote:
Missouri passed years ago a 1/8 of 1 percent sales tax for the state park system. That allows the state to not charge entrance fees and maintain the parks as well as acquire new lands, and keep moderate camping fees.

You TAX all to benefit the few! I only point this out because most people I know have probably never been to a state park and have no interest in going to one. Should they pay for my enjoyment?

[Bob_Landry]

Bonefish wrote:
Another thing if our parks are in much need of repair, daily enterence fees on top of the campsite fees, why do I see so many out of state plates in the TX parks.

Sharon

A lot of park visitors, especially the out of state people, don't know about all the fees until they get to the park. I've read that about the Colorado State Parks also with their added entrance and vehicle fees. When you make a reservation online for a Texas park, there is no mention of the entrance fees. I'm not saying the parks are in disrepair, most are not. I'm just saying there is a better value out there for your camping dollar. It's up to the individual how they want to spend it and what they want to support.