Texas SP online reservations now closed! - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

happybooker1 · 12-10-2007, 11:43 AM

Just got the email notification TODAY (??) that they closed Friday and will be closed through Jan. 31, 2008. Nothing like advance notice, right?!!

Shannon · 12-10-2007, 03:26 PM

Thank you for the heads up!

Here's the full text of TPWD's announcement --

Quote:

Originally Posted by TPWD

Notice of Texas State Park Web Reservation Service Interruption

The Texas State Parks Web reservation service will not be available from 6 pm Friday, December 7, 2007 through January 31, 2008. The Internet reservation system will be down for maintenance and improvements. This period was chosen since records show it is the slowest time of year.
Web Reservations will resume on Friday, February 1, 2008.
For information and reservations, please telephone the Texas State Parks Customer Service Center weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at 512-389-8900. Regrettably, from Dec. 10-14, no state park reservations may be made, by phone or the Web. However, the Texas State Park call center will still be able to either transfer customer calls to the park directly, or take a number or email address and have the park contact those customers during this period.
When the Web Reservation Service resumes, Web Memberships created on ReserveAmerica.com will still exist, but customers will not be able to view any Texas State Park reservations made previously on the web site. Previously made reservations will still be valid and honored as recorded in the state park system. The Texas State Park Customer Service Center has access to all reservations made on the web.
To make changes or to cancel web reservations made before December 7, 2007, please call the Texas State Parks Customer Service Center weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at 512-389-8900.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

brackwl · 12-11-2007, 02:25 PM

No Biggie....i'm sure they don't get much traffic at this time of year.
In fact, it maybe nice to be a first come first serve type thing.
I get tired of not being able to find a place 2 weeks out.
then you go look and they are only fully booked on Sat.
They should hold half of there sites for 2 or 3 day reservations...my .02.

Shannon · 12-11-2007, 04:13 PM

It's only for online reservations and the Central Reservation Line in Austin. The other methods will still be available, namely calling the park(s) directly and/or emailing the park(s).

Shannon · 02-05-2008, 05:22 PM

Effective Today, February 5, 2008:
All Reserve America links have been pulled from Wild Texas.com and we officially recommend that no one use Reserve America to secure their camping reservations. After trying to work with them since November 28, 2007, and receiving nothing but excuses, scoldings about business hours (nevermind the web is 24/7), and promised responses and resolutions that never come, we GIVE UP.

We were a Reserve America affiliate, earning a (small) affiliate income from them for every brand new registration we generated them via links from WildTexas.com. So, this decision comes at a price -- some lost revenue for us. However, we no longer trust this company, either as an affiliate or as a customer, and we cannot in good conscience continue to send them business.

The good news is, you will save money if you avoid making your Texas State Park reservations online through Reserve America, anyway -- From TPWD's site "A $3 non refundable service charge applies to each reservation you make on the Internet. Why we have web fees: The only way the Internet Reservation Service can be offered is to charge users the direct costs. Without these fees, TPWD could not offer Internet reservation service."

All of our old RA links to TPWD-managed parks and facilities have been replaced with a direct link to TPWD's Park Reservations page, which includes info. on TPWD's Central Reservation System at (512)389-8900 as well as email reservations.

Sadly, Reserve America has long-term government contracts to provide online reservation services for the NPS (through Recreation.Gov) as well as most/all U.S. State Parks, so there is no alternative to them if you want to make reservations online.