National Parks - Fee Increases?

[bono]

https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/10-24-...s-proposal.htm

[Rustysocket]

70$ to drive through Rainier or Olympic park for the day is pretty steep. It's pricing many people out of reach.

[JesseS]

My wife and I both have the lifetime $10 senior pass, glad we got it when we did as even that is going up.

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by JesseS

My wife and I both have the lifetime $10 senior pass, glad we got it when we did as even that is going up.

Make that "has gone up". It's now $80, as of late August. Even though it's a huge increase, it's still a bargain.

I'm glad I have my senior lifetime pass, too.

Roger

[DanNJanice]

Originally Posted by Rustysocket

70$ to drive through Rainier or Olympic park for the day is pretty steep. It's pricing many people out of reach.

Agreed. It seems a bit high to me too.
I also wonder why anyone would buy the$75 peak season pass when they could get the $80 full pass.

[JesseS]

Originally Posted by DanNJanice

Agreed. It seems a bit high to me too.
I also wonder why anyone would buy the$75 peak season pass when they could get the $80 full pass.

You have to be 62 to get the senior pass...

[Rustysocket]

These parks were built for "Everyone" to use. They should be fully funded by the department of interior with federal tax dollars and free to visit.

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by Rustysocket

These parks were built for "Everyone" to use. They should be fully funded by the department of interior with federal tax dollars and free to visit.

Well, there's theory and then there's reality. Welcome to reality. Sorry!

Roger

[Bassdogs]

The fees at NP's has pretty much been the same for decades. Just consider that the stop for fuel on the way to the park probably cost $50 or more and that stop at McD's with a couple kids $30-40. The Daniel Boon coon hat [$30] and the night at the hotel [$90] that was maybe $5 and $30 50 years ago. We forget quickly as inflation has raised the cost of the average car over $30k and that HD tv to $50k used.

In all my 50+ years of camping the fee for a campsite at a state park has gone from $4 to over $35 in many parks today. The proposal is calling for an entry fee of $70 for all the passengers in a vehicle and is good for up to 7 days. Time we quit crying and lace up those $150 sneekers and Patagonia fleece pullover and help keep our beautiful parks and forest for the future generations.

[Rustysocket]

If that's truly the case then lets not call this a "test" program and lets raise the fees on ALL the parks. It's unrealistic to expect 17 parks to subsidize the funding of all the rest.

The Senior program should be terminated as well. The current generation of Seniors is the largest ever with more disposable income than any previous generation. Why should they get a free ride?

[Sundancer330]

It sounds expensive but I think its well worth it, a one day ticket to get into the Magic Kingdom is $125.00 per person, campsite at the fort is $100 plus.

[Rustysocket]

For many these are not "Destination" resorts.

[DanNJanice]

Originally Posted by Rustysocket

If that's truly the case then lets not call this a "test" program and lets raise the fees on ALL the parks. It's unrealistic to expect 17 parks to subsidize the funding of all the rest.

The Senior program should be terminated as well. The current generation of Seniors is the largest ever with more disposable income than any previous generation. Why should they get a free ride?

You make a good point. The current generation of young people has/is taking a huge hit. In addition to having fewer young people to carry the burden for an ever increasing number of elderly, they also have stagnant wages, little or no pensions (except for people on the taxpayer's dole), more expensive medical coverage with reduced benefits. I think as a society we are slowing coming to the realization that living independently well into old age and "not wanting to be a burden on the younger generation" is not a realistic way of living. I suspect in the future we will return to a system somewhat like the "old days" where elderly family members lived with the children when they became incapable of caring for themselves.

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by Rustysocket

The current generation of Seniors is the largest ever with more disposable income than any previous generation. Why should they get a free ride?

You want to try convincing my bank and retirement accounts of that? It ain't necessarily so.

OTOH, as long as you younger folks keep paying for my Social Security and Medicare bennies, I'm good...

P.S. We vote, too.

[bdreinv]

Why not it took a lot of years to get to the primo geezer price!I like it.I would bet many would not be able to afford to camp with out it in place.Thanks

[33 RLDS]

The increase will bring in 70 million more. Just buy 1 less fighter jet and it will cover 2 years.

[RoyBraddy]

They are just now advertising on local TV here that the Shenandoah Natl Park entry fee is going up from 25$ to 80$ I think they said... Something about head count too on who is in the cars. Sure hope my Senior Pass still works... It used to get us into the National Park and then also give us a 50% discount on using the LOFT MTN camp site...

I also have a great spot up in the George Washington Natl Park along the Virginia-West Virginia wooded state line. There are no gates to go through there so hope those don't start having fees as well... I love going to a spot there called FLAGPOLE Ridge and have a real nice overlook spot near there right on the wooded State Line that looks out over four or five ridge rolls on the West Virginia side...

Roy Ken

[bdreinv]

And then watch those low life sk.bags is Washington will then cut the parks budget by that amount!

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Rustysocket

If that's truly the case then lets not call this a "test" program and lets raise the fees on ALL the parks. It's unrealistic to expect 17 parks to subsidize the funding of all the rest.

The Senior program should be terminated as well. The current generation of Seniors is the largest ever with more disposable income than any previous generation. Why should they get a free ride?

Are you kidding me? Not all Seniors are rolling in dough as you (and AARP) seem to think. Most of us are on so called "fixed" incomes that get eroded by inflation every year. Keep in mind we Seniors paid to put you through school with our taxes.

80% of the fees collected stay in the park they were collected at. Also, the less popular parks would not be able to collect enough in fees to meet even a minimal operating budget if they didn't get a little help form the more popular park.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by bdreinv

And then watch those low life sk.bags is Washington will then cut the parks budget by that amount!

That wouldn't surprise me.