RE: NC State Parks have a new Reservation System - Beware
Okay - now for the biggest beef!!!!
At Poplar Point, the reduced the entrance to a single file lineup... So, if you are returning to the campground, you have to wait (up to 25 minutes in some cases) for the people in front to get their permits, etc.
Again, like posted above, provide some parking lanes for people checking in or getting vehicle passes to park and GET OUT of their vehicles to walk up to the office to get their permits. Having to wait (and waste fuel) in a line is a waste. It's time for people to call the Division and complain about this new policy. They actually have the second lane closed off with Cones.
RE: NC State Parks have a new Reservation System - Beware
I too am a little frustrated using this new reservation system. While I do not have any knowledge of the "drive up no reservation" policy, I feel they have implemented a monster. It is not as user friendly as, gasp, Reserve America.
You cannot view the sites that you want to reserve without a major changing of websites. This is very bad!
Taking a local example... Jordan Lake State Park - Crosswinds and Poplar Point are now completely Reservation Campgrounds... If you don't have a reservation, then you can only camp for a night at a time and you pay $23/night (electric/water) or $18/night (Non-Electric/Water). If you stay at Parkers Creek Campground, it's non-reservation and still $20/night Electric/Water and $15/night for non-hookup.
Here is the fine print from the Reservation System main page:
Reservations aren’t required for a campsite or picnic shelter if that facility is available. Without a reservation, campsites and reservations are on a first come, first served basis. (NOTE: An exception is Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.)
And from the Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I still camp at a state park if I don't have a reservation?
Campsites are by reservation only. However, campers are welcome for on-site registration if a site is available (has not been reserved). At some parks, a number of campsites are set aside for on-site registration on a first come, first served basis.
Be aware that without advance reservations, you cannot be guaranteed a site for more than one night unless you're using a site specifically set aside for on-site registration.Each state park posts a list of sites available for on-site registration and updates the list at least once daily. The lists are posted on a campground information sign that also gives instructions on how to complete on-site registration. Specific registration procedures may vary from park to park.
I highlighted the section of interest. This means that sites that are part of the Online Reservation system are NOT part of the sites set aside for Onsite registration (also known as First-Come-First-Served).
Granted, this section will mostly apply to the campgrounds that are 100% devoted to Reservable sites like Poplar Point, Crosswinds and any in the large parks like Kerr Lake, Falls Lake, etc but still an inconvenience, especially since you have no idea what kind of site you would get or are set aside as FCFS sites.
NC State Parks have a new Reservation System - Beware
The Good News: NC State Parks take Reservations
The Bad News: NC State Parks take Reservations
It appears that NC State parks have introduced Reservations to all their State Parks (that take camping) but it appears that instead of following tried and true models of other states where it appears to be working just fine, they implemented their own system and having experienced it first hand, I can truly say, it's a MESS!!!!!
Let's start out with some details of the new system...
Campsites under the reservation system are $3 more per night and typically, all campsites in a campground (or loop) are classified as reservable or non-reservable.
Now, if you happen to want to drive in and camp (without a reservation), then you a) are charged the reservation fee regardless and b) can only camp one-night at a time (renewing your site each day)...
This was supposed to take effect July 15th (and for all but 3 parks, this has), but 'technical' issues at the gatehouses for 3 of the parks has delayed this at least until July 27th... They DON'T even know if a site is reserved already or if a site has been double booked.... Sounds like more than a 'Technical problem' at the gatehouse.... but I digress...
As insult to injury, their website is TEDIOUS to use.... You can bring up a calendar view of the sites and see what is available over a 14 day range but if you find the site you want, you have to exit out of the calendar and then page through the sites until you find that site and then select the number of days, etc.....
Sorry for the rant, but it frustrates me that people can't deploy a workable system or gouge people who want to just drive up and camp...
Comments? Opinions?
RE: Sad news for the light weight market
I am disappointed that R-Vision has failed - we got the opportunity with our camping club to tour the R-Vision plant two years ago and the workers were conscientious and hard working when we were going through the plant. They made a decent wage and appeared to work hard.
We had our eyes on one of the V-Nose Trail-Bays and are sad now that we won't get the chance to get one. We could only hope that the original owners of R-Vision could somehow purchase the R-Vision brand back from Monaco and resurrect the company in it's original form.
It's a shame all those people are out of work now and the company they built is gone.
