Community Forums

MSHappyCampers · 05-22-2014, 03:58 PM

An incident happened today that I would like to get your take on. Here's the scenario.

A friend of mine wanted to get a site at a local COE CG. He went out this morning and found a camper that was leaving today. He was at the gatehouse waiting to pay for the site as soon as the other guy left.

Here's the rub. The gate attendant told him that another camper on another site had asked to move to this one when it was available, and that my friend could not have it.

The official rule at COE CG's is that unless the site is reserved it is available on a first-come first-served basis only. To me that means that if someone is standing there ready to pay when another camper vacates the site and leaves the CG, then he has the site!

There was a big squabble over this, even getting the COE regional office involved, but they sided with the gate attendant. They did say that this issue would be discussed and the rule clearly defined at their next meeting.

What's your feeling on this?

bdickson · 05-22-2014, 04:10 PM

Well, my first reaction is that the other camper had already requested to move to the site, and was therefore "first" in "first come first served".

PushedAround · 05-22-2014, 04:14 PM

Seems to me like the camper on-site had "reserved it" by their request to move. They were in the campground first, and (I assume) had already paid at least a deposit to be there.

I do agree that the "first come, first serve" rule needs some clarification for this very reason.

SarahW · 05-22-2014, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdickson

Well, my first reaction is that the other camper had already requested to move to the site, and was therefore "first" in "first come first served".

Agree.

n5pht · 05-22-2014, 04:29 PM

I tend to agree with the others. Remember too that at a COE the gate attendants are (in my experience) campers there at the campground. That begs some "good ol' boy" stuff and I am not completely opposed to that as it generally is a good thing. COE camps have a very different feel for us than State Parks - they seem to have a lot of "long term" campers even though the rules are for x number of days.

Wizard · 05-22-2014, 05:20 PM

Why would your friend not just take the site that the other camper would be vacating

MSHappyCampers · 05-22-2014, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wizard

Why would your friend not just take the site that the other camper would be vacating

It was not a sewer site, the one he wanted was.

monkey · 05-22-2014, 06:09 PM

I'm afraid I'd have to side with the ones that were already there. They asked for it first....

poncho62 · 05-22-2014, 06:16 PM

Pardon my ignorance, but what is COE?

Pusherman · 05-22-2014, 06:28 PM

Army Corps of Engineers Park.

I side with the Gate Attendant. The prior camper had requested that site, it was offered to them upon the occupant's departure. Therefore, a prior verbal reservation was made.

I don't think your friend has a valid argument, The Gate Attendant was the local authority on this topic; it should be respected.

Franka548 · 05-22-2014, 07:21 PM

Joe,
I have to agree with the others, the camper that was already in the park put in a verbal reservation for the site, so he should be the one that gets it.
Frank

JudyH · 05-22-2014, 07:29 PM

I too, think the campers who already had spoken for the spot should have it. We have actually done that in the past. Travelling makes one flexible, and I would hope your friends have the flexibility to take the other site until one with sewer service opens up.

MSHappyCampers · 05-23-2014, 07:40 AM

Thanks to all of you for your comments!

I have to say I'm surprised at the response, although I certainly respect your opinions. My thinking is that this is a government CG with set rules that should be fair to everyone, not bent to accommodate a buddy. If it was a private CG, then I think I would feel differently about it.

Anyway, I think after this incident that the COE regional office will decide exactly how this rule is to be applied and hopefully this will never happen again.

Now as Paul Harvey would way, the rest of the story. It turns out that the guy who wanted the site decided to go home so my friend got the site after all! All's well that ends well I guess!

MSHappyCampers · 05-23-2014, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n5pht

I tend to agree with the others. Remember too that at a COE the gate attendants are (in my experience) campers there at the campground. That begs some "good ol' boy" stuff and I am not completely opposed to that as it generally is a good thing. COE camps have a very different feel for us than State Parks - they seem to have a lot of "long term" campers even though the rules are for x number of days.

Gary, the COE CG's here strictly enforce the length of stay rules. They have "prime sites" which are primarily sewer sites and sites that overlook the river. You can only stay 14 days on those sites. At the end of the 14 days you have the option to move to a "non-prime" site for another 14 days. At the end of 28 days you have to leave the CG for 7 days before beginning the cycle again. a Park Ranger drives through the CG several times a day checking the tags.