Government shutdown/Campgrounds?

Beekeeper · 10-01-2013, 02:30 AM

We have reservations at a Corps of Engineers Campground for what could be our last camping outing of the year. Before I call them, does anyone know if this government "shutdown" will impact our plans? If so........we need to get busy and find a spot at a state facility.

Thanks in advance for any insight or information!

dankent · 10-01-2013, 02:42 AM

Are your state parks not closed down as well ? I heard on CNN they were affected as well.

dhn · 10-01-2013, 05:08 AM

My understanding is that Corp, National Parks, National Forest, etc. are closed. State parks should not be affected. My wife called a Corp park yesterday(9/30) and they told her that they would be closing at 5:00pm on Monday afternoon if they had not come to a deal.

**JRTJH** · 10-01-2013, 06:25 AM

National Parks and COE facilities are closed. Any reservations made will not be available and anyone holding those reservations will be turned away. Many of those people are scurrying to find space in state or private campgrounds. As they make their calls and obtain alternative reservations, the availability will diminish.

If you're thinking about travel, whether you have reservations or not, it would be a good idea to get reservations as soon as you can to avoid being disappointed.

Closing the National facilities will certainly cause use of the state and private facilities to skyrocket. Those in "prime locations" will be filled to capacity as campers change plans due to the federal closings.

Kristi · 10-01-2013, 06:55 AM

We have reservations for next weekend, Oct 11-14 at a national Rec Area. I tried to call them this morning to see the status of the park & there was no answer, just voicemail. We are also trying to decide whether to wait & hope they reopen by then or make other arrangements.

Bob Landry · 10-01-2013, 07:28 AM

Fret not, fellow campers. I would not run to cancel reservations just yet. This a Dog & Pony show of grandiose proportions that will be resolved in a late night, back room deal to be immediately followed by a photo-op of the participants in rolled up shirt sleeves as evidence of their hard work performed on behalf of the American people.

The furloughed "unessential" Federal workers will return to work to receive their pay retroactive, essentially being paid for work not produced(Big surprise, right?) everything will reopen and we can all go camping again.

The only unanswered question, as I see it, is, if the people sent home are really unessential, why are they even on our nickel to begin with?

Kristi · 10-01-2013, 07:46 AM

Grrrr... Recreation.gov is also down so we can't cancel/change our reservations anyway. Wonder what they are gonna do for the folks who have paid reservations during the days they are closed? Refunds?

crash · 10-01-2013, 10:43 AM

All are closed and on Ft lee the contractors were told today to not come back to work until 10-31-13 unless a deal was make

Javi · 10-01-2013, 10:46 AM

As a note: the last time this happened '95-'96 it lasted 28 days.

Kristi · 10-01-2013, 11:15 AM

DH has come up with Plan B. If the parks aren't open, we will be camping the holiday weekend at the deer lease. Big surprise that would be his solution, huh?

We already planned to move the TT down there after next weekend, but I was supposed to get one more outing to the Rec Area for my B-day first.

Beekeeper · 10-01-2013, 01:28 PM

I talked with the campground host at a Corps campground this morning. He was busy issuing refunds, and notifying campers that they would be locking the gates effective 4:00 p.m. today. I think we will go ahead and reserve a spot at a state facility that we are familiar with, and not take a chance on a settlement deal coming out of Washington.

I wonder what they would do if every camper in several big national parks banded together and refused to leave? Maybe that would get some attention!

gkainz · 10-01-2013, 02:09 PM

closing campgrounds and other facilities is just one of the many government stupidities that really REALLY irk me. Let us use our facilities! Lock up the trash cans and the outhouses since there's nobody to clean them, but there's NO REASON to lock the gates!

BlindGuyNAR · 10-01-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristi

Grrrr... Recreation.gov is also down so we can't cancel/change our reservations anyway. Wonder what they are gonna do for the folks who have paid reservations during the days they are closed? Refunds?

Hope so. I'm reserved 7 days at the end of Oct. 20th -> 27th. Not concerned yet. They "should" refund I'd think.

This might be the dumbest part of the shutdown though. These fees I don't mind paying to the gov.

diugo · 10-01-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkainz

closing campgrounds and other facilities is just one of the many government stupidities that really REALLY irk me. Let us use our facilities! Lock up the trash cans and the outhouses since there's nobody to clean them, but there's NO REASON to lock the gates!

NO REASON huh? Here in the LTVA, the BLM locked up the restrooms and dump stations but foolishly let us all stay.

Where do you think a lot of my fellow campers are going to dump their blue boys???

DieselMatt · 10-01-2013, 03:36 PM

Perhaps they should stop taking taxpayer money if they technically aren't spending it anyway. Lets start with the tax on gasoline and diesel. That might encourage us to all get in our RV and take a vacation!

EDIT: For those of you who don't realize I am joking...I'm joking.

gkainz · 10-01-2013, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diugo

NO REASON huh? Here in the LTVA, the BLM locked up the restrooms and dump stations but foolishly let us all stay.

Where do you think a lot of my fellow campers are going to dump their blue boys???

same place I do - sewer cleanout at home?

**JRTJH** · 10-01-2013, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkainz

same place I do - sewer cleanout at home?

Not when you have a two day tank and a 2 week vacation <sigh>

diugo · 10-02-2013, 02:18 PM

I am pleased to report that "someone" has removed the locks on the dump station at the Imperial Dam LTVA

**JRTJH** · 10-02-2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diugo

I am pleased to report that "someone" has removed the locks on the dump station at the Imperial Dam LTVA

That "someone" didn't borrow my bolt cutters, but they would have been loaned without question

Ken / Claudia · 10-02-2013, 06:31 PM

Well at least they did not send the any federal cops home. In Oregon they gave us furlough days for all state workers. The governor does not know the difference between closeing DMV for a day and sending prison guards, state troopers home. Furlough days are not great but, I understood the need to cut back and save money. Those cops send home where replaced by Overtime workers. No one will talk about how much it costs to back fill empty police cars with overtime workers. I would like to here how many furloughed folks get called in to work and get overtime. As working in another assignment etc. that needs a body for a day or two.

You may also like: