It has come to our attention that Maricopa County has proposed a fee increase at its lovely parks surrounding the Phoenix area. We’ve stayed at McDowell Mountain several times, and also at Usery Mountain and Cave Creek. We’ve intended to check out the parks on the west side of town but haven’t managed to get there yet.
Usery Mountain March 2010.
Cave Creek March 2010. (Our least favorite.)
Currently the campground fees are $25/night with water and electric. We feel like $25 is already on the high side, but with the convenience of the location, the huge separation between campsites, the beauty of the surrounding desert, and the excellent trails, we keep returning to McDowell Mountain Park despite the rates.
If the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approves this rate increase, the campsite fees will increase to $30/night as of April 2014. Spending a month here would mean paying $900 for the privilege, which is $200 more than what it currently costs. Seems a bit excessive to us, considering no sewer hookups and bathrooms that are not heated, which makes it pretty uncomfortable to use the showers in the winter. Will we come back next year at $30/night? Probably so, for our annual doctors appointments, but we won’t likely stay as long. I really wonder if this will hurt their business.
Interestingly our next door neighbors, Canadians, have been wintering here for many winters as they love the mountain biking in the area. They even bought a house in nearby upscale Fountain Hills but stay here at the park in their 5th wheel, moving to a different site every two weeks as per the park rules. They said they aren’t sure what they will do next year and may just stay in their house, but I suspect another couple hundred a month won’t break them.
Unusual looking hummingbird at the feeder this morning.
On the Maricopa County website there is a form for public comments. We have expressed our opinion, and if anyone else is interested you may do so here. Thanks!
Another fiery sunrise this morning. It really did look like this.
At $25, I would only stay a night or two and ONLY if I couldn't find an boondocking... At $30 I would keep on going.... bye Phoenix!!
ReplyDeleteDid you fill out the comment form and express your opinion? Maybe they will reconsider if enough people respond negatively.
ReplyDeleteBoondocking is not easy to come by around here.
Gayle
Florida parks have done the same thing. It is now over $30 a night for W/E and in South Carolina on their beach side campgrounds it is now $40 a night. Unfortunately there are plenty of people who only want to come for a week or two for vacation each year and will pay whatever they charge. But there is a point at which I exercise my right to vote by refusing to pay the ever escalating prices which is why I don't go to big screen movies any more - ridiculous price, same with professional sports and now I guess with campgrounds I haven't even been to in Phoenix. I can see why you are irritated. That is a huge jump in one year and the only thing that would change it is if their attendance decreased but I'm betting that won't happen. On a bright note, your pictures are gorgeous, those ears, that wren on her cactus, flickers impersonating humming birds, amazing sunset. Very fine!!
ReplyDeleteTheme parks have high prices too. I've heard it expressed that Disney World, Seaworld, and Universal Studios all consider the total cost of a vacation, Airfare, lodging, meals, shopping, etc. and the theme park cost is a small percent of the total. They are just after their "share."
ReplyDeleteFolks who vacation in RV's aren't any different. They are probably making monthly loan payments on the RV. The cost of a campsite for a couple of weeks vacation seems like a small thing compared to that monthly loan payment when the RV isn't even being used.
Tom,what you say is true, but for fulltimers like us campsite costs do matter. Also because we do quite a bit of free boondocking it is sticker shock to pay the fees some campgrounds are now asking.
DeleteI can't believe they don't have a monthly rate! We stayed there a couple years ago. I think the rate was between 20 - 25 dollars/night.
ReplyDeleteThe current rate is over my threshold, and I would only stay in case of an emergency. Too bad, because I had considered spending some time in the area. I know now to avoid the area. There are other places that are just as attractive, and are more reasonable. I'm on a tight budget, so need to watch the costs carefully. Thanks for the heads-up.
ReplyDeleteYou DO know that the bird at the feeder is a woodpecker, right? :)
ReplyDeleteThat sunrise is amazing!! Have you two become morning folks???
ReplyDeleteOnly because the sun isn't rising until almost 7:30. Jim will NEVER be a morning person!
DeleteLove the "hummingbird"!
ReplyDeleteI've noticed the State Park and County Park fees creeping up every where in the West in the past year. We were shocked at the rates they get away with at state parks along the California coast (some are as much as $75/night)...even day use fees of $15/day. Insane! It is a shame that the alternative (if you want hookups) is private parks where you are squished in next to your neighbor. Unfortunately we will probably continue to visit those parks on the outskirts of Phoenix despite the increase because they are so beautiful and the sites are wonderful.
I'm again behind on blogs because of the lack WiFi. Friday we enter the civilized world.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear all your medical tests worked out. Love that blood pressure number!
I am guessing we really need to do the mountain bike thing when we get back west. But I think we may rent a few first. I am not a huge biking fan anywhere.
The fee at the Big Cypress National Preserve is $30 a night for electric only and no showers! Luckily, John has a senior pass so we only had to pay $15. I think $30 is a high for only electric and no showers. The sites are paved but still!! I guess everyone has to bite the bullet to help keep all these parks up and running.
I agree that we all need to chip in to keep them running. However, just as the national parks have the senior pass it would be helpful to those of us on ye olde fixed income if they would offer some type of discount.
DeleteI would be happy to buy an annual pass. We bought one in NM a couple of times at a cost of $225. The senior pass from the NPS is an amazing bargain and I would have no problem paying for that pass annually at a higher rate.
Jim
It is disappointing because I thought $25 was high enough and I will definitely head over to that link and voice my opinion. We did find some boondocking at Lake Pleasant for $6 a night which we'll probably do in March when we return from Texas. Love your photos!
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of the jack rabbit and the sunset.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you! It's unfortunate to hear about the future rate increases. Usery has been one of our favorite campgrounds. Camping certainly isn't as cheap as it was just a few years ago which was one of many reasons we are happily back in the olde stick and brick.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that they don't raise it to a lot more than $30 per night. With a better gift shop, more ranger-led ecology-sermon hikes, paved parking lots, a computerized reservation system for sites that abut the best scenery, more restrictions against dogs and bicycles, AND higher rates, the Phoenix parks will be more of a bourgeois status symbol. And so, that will bring MY business there. (yea, right!)
ReplyDelete