Ohio State Parks / what to expect this summer.

[Superslif]

The official / un-official opening to camping in the Ohio State Parks was the 22nd of May. But unless you had a old reservation, the new reservations took effect June first. According to Ohio, only people who actually reserved a site beforehand can camp. Not sure what happens to the ones who arrive without reservations. Was told when I called that even if they had 200 sites available midweek you had to go elsewhere.

I went ahead and made three midweek reservations. Calling to make those reservations the introductory message was very few bathrooms would be open, and even less shower buildings. The park I’m at now ( Sunday thru Friday morning ) the one shower building is open all week, but the other one for the non-Electric side of the campground is only open Friday till Sunday at 1:00.

Arriving on Sunday and until Monday at noon, the open shower building had not been cleaned ( plugged toilets, trash on floor, no TP.....). I told 3 different park employees there was no TP, all 3 said “someone” else would get to it later today. I understand the weekend, the campground was full. During the midweek now it’s about 1/2 full on the electric sites, 100% on the full service sites and 15% full on the non-electric sites.

Playgrounds are fenced off. The office, store and nature center are still in winter hibernation. I ran into a bunch of first time campers both in tents and new RV’s.

[NLOVNIT]

Thanks for the report, Jim. When I think about it, very few of our state park campground restrooms were kept clean (clean enough for me to use anyway) & even with instructions on what they're supposed to do now, I don't see it improving. Being self-contained is a good thing.

With public facilities limited (if not closed), I'll bet a FHU site is scarce as hen's teeth.

Lori-