Last fall we went weekend camping and managed to get a lake front site. We decided to go off to town on Saturday, as we only drove our MH, we had to drive it to town. I made sure our reservation tag was clearly displayed and TAPED down to the post so that it was clear someone was there. We came back to find a family of two adults and two children "squatting" on our site, with the picnic table covered with food and a windbreak put up. No tent or MH in sight, but they were driving a large pickup truck.
When we asked if they had checked with the rangers, they said that it hadn't occurred to them. We told them this was our site, they had to leave and they asked us to let them finish lunch. As there were two very little girls (probably 3 and 5 years old) at the table, we backed off. There was room on the large, shallow site to pull our MH along the side off the road. My diabetic husband was starting to shake from low blood sugar anyway, so we had to stop and eat right away.
The family left after finishing their lunch, and started to set up on a nearby site across the road from the water. Oddly about an hour later I looked over and they were gone. But there was a ranger going past. I wonder if these people had snuck in and were kicked out when the rangers came around...We even walked the campground a bit later looking for them but they were very much gone.
I'm sick of following my dreams - I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later.
Jennerator wrote: Some people don't get it. That happened to us on our 1st Anniversary. Except, the people took our reserved, specially picked out spot (that was paid for). They had already set up camp and were eating when we arrived. Talk about awkward. When we explained it was for our Anniversary and that it was a special spot (and paid for), they said for us to get the Park Warden and they weren't moving. "Pick another spot. There are plenty of them." Sure, there were, but this one cost more due to its waterfront location and being the ONLY waterfront location. What a mess.
Instead of causing a stink, we just moved to another spot - far away - and then spent our day on their beach. LOL.
Some people just don't get it and we're too nice.
I've been thinking about this for a while and this is my thoughts: I am not a lawyer or a leo so take it from a laymans position.
They are crooks! You paid for the site, they are there without your permission, so they are trespassing at least. You paid extra for the site. If they paid for a cheaper site, they are ripping off the campground for the additional revenue. Theft of services. Do you really want them camping around you?
Be careful forcing the issue with unknown persons, even with a Ranger's help. Retribution can be deadly. Not to be a fear-monger... but:
I recall an episode I read about in a news article, about 5 years or more ago... where there was a dispute over a campsite that had been reserved and erroneously occupied. The Rangers got involved and then the deviant who would not give up the site came back to the registration shack with a shotgun and killed the rightful camper and injured his young son (or nephew?) right in front of the Ranger. And I think the Ranger was injured too. All over a campsite? I am sketchy on the details, but it was a news article I had read, not just a rumor or posting.
We once had to have ranger help to remove a squatting family camping in our reserved and paid-for site. We were there with another family and reserved 2 sites together months before for a holiday weekend. The rest of the park was full, and they had to leave. I guess they thought they could pull into a very popular full park and find such a good site unoccupied on a Friday afternoon? They didn't *see* the sign on the post saying RESERVED?
They were less than happy, and took their own sweet time leaving. If they had been nice, we might have worked out a solution. Nasty remarks were made to the Ranger whom thought we should be extra watchful of our things that weekend. The Ranger said he would patrol our loop more often too. It did not make an enjoyable weekend, as we were looking over our shoulder a lot. Uneasy feelings.
We are volunteer park hosts in an Idaho state park. Part of our job is to keep people from sneaking into reserved sites and to keep day use people from setting up in camping sites. We check everyone that comes into the park.
There are some weird and wonderful excuses out there folks! Just when you think you have heard them all a new one comes along.
One of the Rangers says after she retires she is going to write a book about the ones she has heard.
I hope she does, it would be entertaining.
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee,(Wife) Codi, Brandi (Shelties) and Damncat (damn cat)
Full Timing in a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N, Workhorse chassis, Honda Accord toad
Clay, Please give us a top 10 list of the most interesting excuses for setting up in someone else's campsite!
The people we had to deal with seemed to genuinely not have a clue. I would love to hear some of the excuses people use when they are deliberately being a pain!
I had a situation last year where I had made reservations at a state park not to far from home. We had never been there and when I made reservations the campgounds were ~ 2/3rds full. I selected the best of the worst spots on reserveamerica.com. When I got there a truck with trailer was in our spot not unhooked but just backed in. About the time I got out of my truck to see what was up a man came up to me from the ajoining camp site asking if this was our spot which I replided yes. He said that was his rig in our spot and wanted to know If I would trade with him so they could be next to their friends. I said sure why not figuring I would like to be camping with my friends. Come to find out his spot was one of the nicest on the lake front. It was a win-win. Being nice does pay-off sometimes.
When you need to leave your campsite for a short time and come back, perhaps you can leave a cheap 99 cent tablecloth tacked to the table, or a big foam paperplate tacked on the post with the writing on it: SITE OCCUPIED AND PAID FOR
My sister has paid for sites for me, and set up her now grown son's childhood pup tent on our site till we get there later in the day.
Many campgrounds in our neck of the woods are first come, first serve with no ranger or registration staff, so unaware folks will set up where the see a vacant site, and perhaps didnt notice a small tag hanging on the post?
ReadyToGo! wrote: Clay, Please give us a top 10 list of the most interesting excuses for setting up in someone else's campsite!
The people we had to deal with seemed to genuinely not have a clue. I would love to hear some of the excuses people use when they are deliberately being a pain!
I don't know about the most interesting, but the most common is:
I didn't know you had to have reservations (standing in front of a three foot tall sign that says "RESERVED").
Had this one once.
Well if the other people show up we will move. (no mam, you will move now)
Many other excuses are about having to pay a fee for either camping or day use.
When did they start charging? (12 years ago)
I don't have to pay because:
I am local
I have a cabin just up the way
My homeowners association says I don't have to pay. (Your homeowners association has absolutely nothing to do with access to Federal land) "Well maybe they meant the common area over by our lot".
I haven't paid in ten years (you have been lucky for ten years)
I pay a lot of taxes (me too, you still have to pay)
Teddy Roosevelt set this park up and we don't have to pay. (Teddy died in 1909, the reservoir was built in the 40s).
We live here and it's our land. (It's Federal Bureau of Reclamation land administered by the state. I am an American - that makes it as much my land as it is yours- I still have to have an annual pass sticker on my vehicle)
I am not going to use the facilities, I am just going to launch my boat.
Other hosts have a lot more I am sure. When we have our weekly Park Host Association Bored (spelling is intentional) meeting on Thursday, I will ask for more.
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