How may government shutdown effect RV'rs at National Parks?

[Wench]

What does that mean for RV'ers that are in a National Park? From what I have heard they will be closing. Does that mean you get kicked out if you are in the park? Does that mean you cannot get into your site which you have probably had reservations for close to a year?

Just a citizen wondering why???

[Solo_RV_Guy]

Originally Posted by Wench

What does that mean for RV'ers that are in a National Park? From what I have heard they will be closing. Does that mean you get kicked out if you are in the park? Does that mean you cannot get into your site which you have probably had reservations for close to a year?

Just a citizen wondering why???

Because there is no: administration, law enforcement, public safety/first responders, maintenance, etc.


As to "Our fabulous government", I'd assert that the worker bee-side of "our government" is happy to do their jobs so long as they're covered by workman's compensation and will receive their paychecks on time. As it is, "non-essential" workers get sent home so there is no obligation to pay them when there is no Congressional authorization to extend the Treasury's ability to sell bonds to cover the expenses Congress has previously authorized.


As for the root cause, we'd probably be getting into the weeds of political discussion so I'll stop here... but if you can't access the federal space you've reserved you're *generally* entitled to a refund of your deposit or pre-paid fees. If the federal land is operated by a State government under contract, you may have different options or none at all.

[Dave-Oh]

No politics - but realistically, I would hope that the Nat'l parks would at least publish a web blurb about what to expect if they close:

An article from a fellow RVer's website with at least some speculation:

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Will National Parks Be Open If Government Shuts Down?

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By Kurt Repanshek on December 16th, 2018

With concerns growing that the federal government will shut down, at least partially, late this week, the question of whether the National Park System will be open to visitors is a natural one. The answer is yes, but with some caveats.

If government does close, most National Park Service employees will be sent home, or furloughed, for the duration of the closure. Key personnel, such as law enforcement rangers and those needed to keep the power on to buildings will remain on the job. Concessions will continue to operate, and visitors will be free to enter.

"Parks must notify visitors that the NPS will cease providing visitor services, including restrooms, trash collection, facilities and roads maintenance (including plowing), campground reservation and check-in/check-out services, backcountry and other permits, and public information" in the event of a shutdown, according to the contingency plan the Park Service adopted last January. "While parks may still be accessible to visitors, parks may not use the presence of visitors in the park to justify higher staffing numbers than approved during previous shutdowns."

If conditions -- snowstorms, torrential rains, wildfires -- create risks to visitors, affected areas "must" be closed, the document says.

Additionally, park websites and social media channels will not be maintained during the shutdown.

"At the superintendent’s discretion, parks may close grounds/areas with sensitive natural, cultural, historic, or archaeological resources vulnerable to destruction, looting, or other damage that cannot be adequately protected by the excepted law enforcement staff that remain on duty to conduct essential activities," the document says.

Not too many years ago the park system closed to visitors during government shutdowns. That became a huge issue during the shutdown in October 2013, when some states that enjoy peak tourism during the fall months put up the money to keep certain parks open rather than take an economic impact to surrounding communities. In the end, the states did take a hit, as the federal government never repaid them for the millions of dollars they spent keeping the parks open.

The face of the 2013 closure, if you will, in many instances was the National Park Service, as river trips and weddings were canceled and vacations interrupted.

The policy of closing parks during government shutdowns ended in January 2018, when the Trump administration made the decision to keep them open. There was some conjecture that a government shutdown was the perfect opportunity for the Trump administration to show Congress and the American public that parks can be run effectively without the NPS.

Not everything rolled smoothly, though. At Zion National Park in Utah a cow elk was poached inside the park during last January's shutdown. At Olympic National Park in Washington, roads were blocked by trees that a storm downed.

Back in 1995, Arizona's governor sent out the National Guard to keep Grand Canyon National Park open during a government shutdown.

[NLOVNIT]

Just a reminder, do not bring partisan politics into this thread. Discuss only the impact with no finger pointing.

Thank you.

Lori-

[egwilly]

You won't be allowed in, and you will be asked to leave with some notice by the Rangers or a note on your vehicle.

[Scottybdivin]

They were closed in 2013. It changed my plans. Not just NP's but NRA's and NF too. We ended up in a couple state parks in AZ.

[powercat_ras]

If there is a shut down check the specific park you are planning to visit. If it is like previous shutdowns, parks may remain acessible but with closed or reduced hours on visitor centers. Campgrounds will depend on the park, if the park campground is operated by the park lodging vendor such as Xanterra they might keep operating.

Each park will update their web site with their situation with a day or two of the shutdown.

[HJLowell]

I Highly doubt that there will be a shut down at All.

In .y opinion.

None

[vettenuts]

It’s a partial shutdown, with some parts of government funded for FY 19. Are you sure the National Parks have not already been funded?

[RKins]

Common sense would say that if you're already in a park and you have a rez for 2 weeks, which you've already paid (been charged on CC) for, they would let you stay.

I don't know how the people that have a rez that their CC hasn't been charged because they haven't checked in, will fare.
Scary

[mobilemike]

A couple of years ago dungeness and king crab seasons were delayed until the shutdown was over.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by egwilly

You won't be allowed in, and you will be asked to leave with some notice by the Rangers or a note on your vehicle.

This is the answer.

[Isaac-1]

Without getting political here, previous administrations have taken the stance of making it so government shutdowns were felt by the public as much as possible, so that the public would put pressure on congress to end the shutdowns, while the current administration has taken the stance of trying to make any potential government shutdown felt by the public as little as possible.

[Itsu2000]

I am now camped at a Army Corps of Engineers campground. I was told that the gate would be locked and that I would be asked to leave.