New Reservation System for CA State Parks March 22, 2017, 11:55:18 am A FYI: some may have heard about this upcoming change (August 1) to the California state parks' reservations system. At present, information/details, i.e., who runs it, policies, fees, campsite price increases?, etc., are not available. What is NewCalifornia State Parks Reservation System
Re: New Reservation System for CA State Parks Reply #1 – March 22, 2017, 12:05:50 pm I believe Hearst Castle will be the first to implement the new system.Hearst Castle first in line for new State Parks reservation system | The Tribune
Re: New Reservation System for CA State Parks Reply #2 – March 22, 2017, 03:29:50 pm It sure would be nice if they went to a Recreation.gov type site, instead of the commercial Reserve America-type site.I would rather see the State Parks collect the service fees, instead of a private contractor.The parks in California generate hundreds of millions , if not billion, annually through tourism but the parks funding is minimal. Look at the un-repaired damage caused to the parks during the last ten years. Some parks were closed, only to be destroy by vandals.One of our favorites, Mitchell Caverns is good example. Over a million in damages, within weeks of closing the gate, none of the parks managers thought that leaving caretaker on site was a good idea. It still hasn't reopened yet, waiting on funding.Providence Mountains SRAMorro Bay, the site of our annual GTG, has not been maintain well over the last decade. Only an major flood event provided the emergency funds to clean and repair the park, as it should have been done all along.A major reorganizing and revamping of the funding of the California State Park system is order. We have the worse funded, poorly run and most expensive parks in the western US. All gate receipts go into the general fund and do not come back to the parks. Keep the fees in the parks and there would be much more money for maintenance and improvements .At $35 to over $50 a night, it adds up to a lot of money,Other states extensively use groups of senior park hosts to maintain and monitor the parks, while providing full hookup sites for camp hosts. Arizona has done this to many of their parks and the results show positively.A proud Californian who wants our parks to remain word class.Larry 2 Likes
Re: New Reservation System for CA State Parks Reply #3 – March 22, 2017, 05:46:58 pm Quote from: Larry Wade - March 22, 2017, 03:29:50 pmIt sure would be nice if they went to a Recreation.gov type site, instead of the commercial Reserve America-type site.I would rather see the State Parks collect the service fees, instead of a private contractor.The parks in California generate hundreds of millions , if not billion, annually through tourism but the parks funding is minimal. Look at the un-repaired damage caused to the parks during the last ten years. Some parks were closed, only to be destroy by vandals.One of our favorites, Mitchell Caverns is good example. Over a million in damages, within weeks of closing the gate, none of the parks managers thought that leaving caretaker on site was a good idea. It still hasn't reopened yet, waiting on funding.Providence Mountains SRAMorro Bay, the site of our annual GTG, has not been maintain well over the last decade. Only an major flood event provided the emergency funds to clean and repair the park, as it should have been done all along.A major reorganizing and revamping of the funding of the California State Park system is order. We have the worse funded, poorly run and most expensive parks in the western US. All gate receipts go into the general fund and do not come back to the parks. Keep the fees in the parks and there would be much more money for maintenance and improvements .At $35 to over $50 a night, it adds up to a lot of money,Other states extensively use groups of senior park hosts to maintain and monitor the parks, while providing full hookup sites for camp hosts. Arizona has done this to many of their parks and the results show positively.A proud Californian who wants our parks to remain word class.LarrySo true Larry.After visiting British Columbia it's easy to have envy.
Re: New Reservation System for CA State Parks Reply #4 – March 22, 2017, 05:49:54 pm British Columbia? Heck, you don't have to go any farther than Oregon! 1 Likes
Re: New Reservation System for CA State Parks Reply #5 – March 22, 2017, 07:33:18 pm So my kids and I have spent the last 4 1/2 months living and traveling in our LD. We have been to about 20 states; however, the last 2 months we have been in CA. Last week we stayed at Malibu Creek State Park, it literally was the worst place we have stayed. The grass at our site was about 2ft high. I was afraid to let my kids run around the site for fear that they would get bit by a rattlesnake. It was only on our last full day there that I realized all of those holes were gopher holes. 😜 Yep and sure enough, Larry, it was the first STATE park that we have stayed at (vs- private, regional, national etc) That was $45/night with no hookups. We are currently at Morro Bay, and it's not too bad. Oh and you don't have to be a senior to be a camp host....I know 'families' that do it. 😉I agree with Lazy Bones.... Oregon knows how to do the park thing right. I definitely have been most impressed with their parks, and I'm looking forward to going back in the next few weeks, on my way back home. 2 Likes
Re: New Reservation System for CA State Parks Reply #6 – March 22, 2017, 07:42:48 pm Quote from: Rebecca Winters - March 22, 2017, 07:33:18 pmI agree with Lazy Bones.... Oregon knows how to do the park thing right. I definitely have been most impressed with their parks, and I'm looking forward to going back in the next few weeks, on my way back home.If I may -- The State of Oregon is generally a user fee state. The users of the government service pay for the service. the State Park system is supported by users fee, a portion of the RV tag fee and a small slice of the lottery funds. The parks are well loved and well supported thru out the state. <smile> Come summer time finding a spot of the coast is like hunting for gold. Oregon State Parks 2 Likes