America The Beautiful Pass

[JnJnKatiebug]

Well I will be 62 this week. I believe I will head down and get my pass. Last year it was $10, now it’s $80. Just my luck but it’s still a bargain.

[aviator]

Only the real card is accepted. Photos and plastic sided photos are not allowed at Corps of Engineers. Maybe you let your neighbor use our real card??? Most activities require a photo ID as stated on the back of the card for use.

[Moderator]

The Iphone photos are of the back and front of the cards. At Sam's the phone photo is accepted to pick up meds at the pharmacy, the code on the back of the card (which has the barcode) works at both the pharmacy and at the self checkout. I don't even carry the Sam's card and the cards for some other stores. My billfold is much thinner. My wife does the same thing. The Costco we went to Sat. we used the same procedure, but she also had to show her driver's license as they prefer the real card.

[jmckelvy]

Moderator wrote:
We have our Senior Passes on our phones as we do our Kroger card, Publix, etc, but some parks/attractions require the actual card; therefore we carry it with us.

How about some more details? Is this just a photo of the cards or what?

[Moderator]

We have our Senior Passes on our phones as we do our Kroger card, Publix, etc, but some parks/attractions require the actual card; therefore we carry it with us.

[beemerphile1]

bukhrn wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
Before the increase we bought two additional passes. They are good for life but only if you don't lose the card. Now we have spares.

This is the part I don't understand, If you lose your card, you must pay $80 for a new one, however, if your card is destroyed, as usually happens with most plastic cards in my wallet, you can get a new card for free, If you have a part of the old card, either way they have your info entered into the system, why can't you get a free replacement either way?

They don't keep records on this, otherwise how could I buy two without triggering an alert?

[2gypsies1]

bukhrn wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
Before the increase we bought two additional passes. They are good for life but only if you don't lose the card. Now we have spares.

This is the part I don't understand, If you lose your card, you must pay $80 for a new one, however, if your card is destroyed, as usually happens with most plastic cards in my wallet, you can get a new card for free, If you have a part of the old card, either way they have your info entered into the system, why can't you get a free replacement either way?

I don't believe your information is in any 'system'. When we volunteered in a national park and issued the cards, only handwritten information was entered in a log book. Now with computers I'm sure it's different but I don't know about all the info in a computer base.

[bukhrn]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Before the increase we bought two additional passes. They are good for life but only if you don't lose the card. Now we have spares.

This is the part I don't understand, If you lose your card, you must pay $80 for a new one, however, if your card is destroyed, as usually happens with most plastic cards in my wallet, you can get a new card for free, If you have a part of the old card, either way they have your info entered into the system, why can't you get a free replacement either way?

[BarabooBob]

I turned 62 four days before the price changed. So being the cheap person that I am, I sent my application in and paid the $10 handling fee for mail order. So, I paid $20 for the pass. My wife and I stop at every NP we get close to and we use our pass. We also drop $10 or $20 into the voluntary donation box at every park. We are not rich but we like to help maintain the parks. I am disappointed that people want to use the parks but don't want to help maintain them. Maybe that is why we have so few people show up at our local state parks on clean up days.

[2gypsies1]

azdryheat wrote:
Sad that we Americans have to pay to get into national parks that 'we-the-people' taxpayers already own. There's enuf foreigner visitors that can pick up the whole tab.

That's an awful way of thinking. If visitors want to experience the national parks and expect things to be there this is a very small payment and it doesn't begin to cover the cost to keep a park open for all those visitors. Repairs and maintenance are so far backlogged they'll never catch up. Millions of visitors really impact the parks. Would it be better that they be closed down and only walk-ins allowed? Back to wilderness? Having volunteered in national parks was a real eye-opener of behind-the-scenes.

[beemerphile1]

Before the increase we bought two additional passes. They are good for life but only if you don't lose the card. Now we have spares.

[ReneeG]

Terryallan wrote:
I have the Senior pass for National parks. Sounds like it is the same thing?? Was 10 dollars now 80

Yes. The one I got in April, 2018 for $80 says, "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass LIFETIME SENIOR" on the front and on the back at the top it says, "$80 Senior - Lifetime, Lifetime Pass for U.S. Citizen or permanent resident 62 years or older."

[BB_TX]

That pass is a very small price to pay to help maintain those beautiful parks. I got the Senior America the Beautiful Pass when it was still $10, but would have gladly paid the $80 for it.

And don't forget COE parks. We frequently go to a fairly close by COE park with 50 FHU, large concrete patios, very nice oversize tables, fire ring, separate grill, and 100' or more to nearest neighbor for $12/night (half off the regular $24/night) using that pass.

[Moderator]

They are OUR parks, and it is OUR responsibility to maintain them. Foreign visitors entrance fees are NOT sufficient to keep them going. Even if they were, it is not their responsibility. The nice thing is Americans are known for a willingness to share the beauty of our country. And, the topic of this thread is the nice perk senior citizens receive. 🙂

[azdryheat]

Sad that we Americans have to pay to get into national parks that 'we-the-people' taxpayers already own. There's enuf foreigner visitors that can pick up the whole tab.