davesoutfishing
02-19-2006, 01:42 PM
DES MOINES - Beginning at 9 a.m. February 13, local time, campers, who
choose, will know for certain they have a campsite waiting for them upon
arrival in their favorite state park. For the first time in its 85 year
history, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin
accepting campsite reservations.
"We are really excited about this new system and I think it will be
popular among our campers who like to travel a little farther from home,
but worry that all the campsites will fill before they arrive," said
Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the DNR's state parks bureau.
Campsites may be reserved from as little as one night or as many as 14
consecutive nights and one person can reserve more than one campsite at
a time so campers can stay next to each other. There are additional
requirements for stays during the peak season.
The reservation system offers a number of new features, including
photos of each campsite available for reservation, detailed descriptions
and the ability to pay by credit card. Campsites can be reserved on-line
at www.reserveiaparks.com or by calling 1-877-IAPARKS. Phone call
reservations are accepted from 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday,
and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from Feb. 1 through Sept.
30, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week from Oct. 1 and Jan. 31.
Reservations will be accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the
Internet.
Szcodronski said an equal number of campsites will still be available
the old way - first come, first serve. Staff in each state park
selected an equal number of electric and non-electric, modern and
non-modern sites available to fit both needs.
"We tried to be as fair as we could when selecting which campsites
could be reserved, and which would not, to try to serve both interests
and I think we have done that," Szcodronski said.
The DNR will accept check, money order, camping coupon as well as
credit card for payment. Non-electronic payments must be received
within 10 days of making the reservation.
This new system does not come without some cost. There is a $4 fee to
reserve a campsite using the website and a $6 fee to use the phone
system. Credit card users will be charged a 3 percent processing fee of
total of the overall order. The system was built to allow the people
who use it, to be the people who finance it.
The website will take users step by step how to make a reservation.
Users can create an account in seconds, learn about making a reservation
or just browse the site to see what all it has to offer.
"We tried to create a website easy to navigate and easy to understand
and I think we succeeded," he said. "I think people will find it
easy to use and will be pleased with the reservation system in
general."
In 2005, more than 660,000 camping guest nights were spent in Iowa
State Parks.
choose, will know for certain they have a campsite waiting for them upon
arrival in their favorite state park. For the first time in its 85 year
history, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin
accepting campsite reservations.
"We are really excited about this new system and I think it will be
popular among our campers who like to travel a little farther from home,
but worry that all the campsites will fill before they arrive," said
Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the DNR's state parks bureau.
Campsites may be reserved from as little as one night or as many as 14
consecutive nights and one person can reserve more than one campsite at
a time so campers can stay next to each other. There are additional
requirements for stays during the peak season.
The reservation system offers a number of new features, including
photos of each campsite available for reservation, detailed descriptions
and the ability to pay by credit card. Campsites can be reserved on-line
at www.reserveiaparks.com or by calling 1-877-IAPARKS. Phone call
reservations are accepted from 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday,
and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from Feb. 1 through Sept.
30, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week from Oct. 1 and Jan. 31.
Reservations will be accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the
Internet.
Szcodronski said an equal number of campsites will still be available
the old way - first come, first serve. Staff in each state park
selected an equal number of electric and non-electric, modern and
non-modern sites available to fit both needs.
"We tried to be as fair as we could when selecting which campsites
could be reserved, and which would not, to try to serve both interests
and I think we have done that," Szcodronski said.
The DNR will accept check, money order, camping coupon as well as
credit card for payment. Non-electronic payments must be received
within 10 days of making the reservation.
This new system does not come without some cost. There is a $4 fee to
reserve a campsite using the website and a $6 fee to use the phone
system. Credit card users will be charged a 3 percent processing fee of
total of the overall order. The system was built to allow the people
who use it, to be the people who finance it.
The website will take users step by step how to make a reservation.
Users can create an account in seconds, learn about making a reservation
or just browse the site to see what all it has to offer.
"We tried to create a website easy to navigate and easy to understand
and I think we succeeded," he said. "I think people will find it
easy to use and will be pleased with the reservation system in
general."
In 2005, more than 660,000 camping guest nights were spent in Iowa
State Parks.