Custer SP Resort

[wingerphil]

Just hung up with the HR guy at the concessionaire for Custer SP. We were all excited about getting a paying job working and living in the park. We asked a bunch of questions and were surprised to find out they take $220 out of your paycheck (every two weeks) for your campsite. Not a complete deal breaker until I questioned him further and it would be the same for my wife's check too. That's $880 for June, July and Sept and a whooping $1320.00 for August since there are 3 paychecks that month. This just doesn't seem correct and I told him it seemed way excessive since the daily rate at one of the public campgrounds is only $720 for an entire month and he told me that is the way they have always done it.

Has anyone actually worked for them and is this the case? I am still having a hard time believing this is correct.

Phil

[Community Alumni]

Not to bring up an old topic but I just had a conversation with some workampers here at Custer State Park and they are required to pay for site and meals even if they do not eat meals. I also heard that the meals are not that good possibly left overs from the buffet lines.

As I understood things they were paying 440 a month per person site and meals. So a single is 440 a double is 880. So the 960 as earlier posted is right on.

I have also noticed that there is more younger workers here (at the resorts) than when I was here in 2008 and that the RV sites for the resort are not full maybe less that 1/2 or near 1/2.

Any one else here at CSP have any thing to ad?

JimR

[Community Alumni]

wingerphil wrote:
we did ask if we could opt out of the meals and was told no we could stay at a campground off site and opt out of the lodging but the meal charge would be taken out.
I just had a problem with the amount they are taking out. We would have been working fulltime hours for a set wage, then they would be deducting 1/3 of our earned income for the housing and meals. I really couldn't see us eating 3 meals every day in a cafeteria and doubt if we would eat there more then 3-4 times a month if at all. A plan for RVers to opt of the meals would be better as well as a "fair" price for your site.
I would much rather volunteer my time for the park, not for the profit of a concessionaire,if I only wanted to visit the area. Unfortunantly we have been hit with some large medical bills and need to make a wage for a while in order to help us pay those. We are moving on and looking at other opportunities that may work for us.

Thanks,

Phil

Lately Worksamper.com has been posting a lot of jobs as well as RVers Workers on wheels.

JimR

[wendybig]

If you're wanting to stay in the area, Hills Hospitality is lo-oking for housekeeping and front desk people in Keystone, SD for some of their hotels. Randy Cook is the hiring person. His phone number is 605-858-0869 and his email is jrckeystone@yahoo.com

[wingerphil]

we did ask if we could opt out of the meals and was told no we could stay at a campground off site and opt out of the lodging but the meal charge would be taken out.
I just had a problem with the amount they are taking out. We would have been working fulltime hours for a set wage, then they would be deducting 1/3 of our earned income for the housing and meals. I really couldn't see us eating 3 meals every day in a cafeteria and doubt if we would eat there more then 3-4 times a month if at all. A plan for RVers to opt of the meals would be better as well as a "fair" price for your site.
I would much rather volunteer my time for the park, not for the profit of a concessionaire,if I only wanted to visit the area. Unfortunantly we have been hit with some large medical bills and need to make a wage for a while in order to help us pay those. We are moving on and looking at other opportunities that may work for us.

Thanks,

Phil

[Community Alumni]

I may be wrong but I thought there was a meal op-out so you would not be charged meals.

There are many workers for the 4 resorts in the park and many do not have RVs so dorms and meals are provided. For the RV folks at one time there was an op-out for the meals. This is how I remember things.

If I think of it tomorrow I will ask one of the RV folks.

Also if you work here you will need to buy a park pass if you volunteer for at least 24 hours you get a free annual park pass. Cost for an annual pass is 30 dollars.

After posting the above I went to Cool Works and looked up Regency CSP Resorts, the park resorts and found this under employment info. Looks like some type of pay package.
I think I would ask what the net pay for x number of hours is.

CSP Resorts

JimR

[jims1]

Have a question for those that have worked there-
Suppose an employee has dietary needs, say Celiac disease= NO GLUTTON
Would they still charge for the meals, or would they guarentee safe meals for me?

[afrescopXx]

$960 for two people a month is $16 a day per person for three meals plus a spot. Try buying a spot on your own and eating at Mickey D's for three meals. $960 sounds very reasonable.

[jetboater454]

Seems rather high,but if lunch was steaks and dinner was shrimp and lobster...nope still be too high.:E

Guess it boils down to the old saying...I want to be in this area.

[raywen]

Hi, We are volunteers at Custer state Park, we only recieve our site. A fellow worker who does entrance gate at 40 hrs. (not sure how much hourly pay) pays $4.00 per day.No meal options. Person is single in wild life loop campground.

[wingerphil]

Horsedoc wrote:
That is for the concessionaire that runs the lodges etc. If you work for the park itself, there is a different price. It has been 4 years since we worked there, but the price they quoted is ridiculous. Call the park office and see what an employee pays at the employee CG off Game Loop or at Sun City and at the employee sites at the CGs in the park as well. Maybe talk with Craig Pugsley or Lance Catron

I was referred to the concessionaire by Craig because we were wanting a paid position and he only has volunteer positions which, incidently, come with a free site.

[Horsedoc]

That is for the concessionaire that runs the lodges etc. If you work for the park itself, there is a different price. It has been 4 years since we worked there, but the price they quoted is ridiculous. Call the park office and see what an employee pays at the employee CG off Game Loop or at Sun City and at the employee sites at the CGs in the park as well. Maybe talk with Craig Pugsley or Lance Catron

[wingerphil]

sent an email to the GM and asked for some clarification and this is his reply:

The $480 per month is part of your entire compensation package. It is not based per paycheck. This would include 3 meals per day, 7 days a week and the RV spot. Depending on the number of paydays that are in that particular month, there would be a deduction of $240 per pay check (less if there were 3 paydays). Total Deduction between you and your wife: June $960 July $960 August $960 September $960, etc. Our compensation package is similar to those of Yellowstone, Glacier, Teton, etc. We actually charge less than most. I’m sorry if you feel that this is excessive. We have many work campers that work for us and the majority of them have returned for many years.

Frankly I do think this is excessive since I really wouldn't see us partaking of 3 meals per day in their cafeteria. Doing the math, working 40 hours per week each at their proposed pay rate subtract the taxes and the "fees" and we would clear just over $4.00 per hour each! What a disappointment, and to think they say "majority of them have returned for many years".

[USA_Traveler]

Have never been there, but that amount seems excessive. Don't think I could handle that, especially since it is more than the normal daily rate for the public.

[Trackrig]

Interesting. What would happen if only one of you were working there? Would they still take only $220 from the one working, or would they raise it to $440 so they get the same revenue? Either way, it would be better if they just lowered your pay so that you're not paying taxes on what they're taking back.

Bill